Abstract:
Students’ diets in boarding secondary schools are a major concern as to whether meals offered meet nutritional needs of growing adolescents. A case study was used to assess nutrient adequacy of meals served to 724 students of Pemba Secondary School. The diet was analysed to ascertain whether it was meeting dietary requirements for the students aged 15-18 years. A key informant and the school menu provided information for the analysis of the diet. Dietary diversity and food variety scores were calculated basing on MyPyramid 2005. The nutrient composition of the food was analysed using the Dietary Manager Software Programme Version 2010. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was also used to find out the relationship between selected nutrients that were consumed and the Recommended Dietary Allowances. On the overall the results revealed low scores on both the food variety and dietary diversity. Students consumed food items from three food groups out of the five food groups recommended by MyPyramid 2005. Dairy products and fruits were not served at all in the school menu. The grains subgroup made up the bulk of food items consumed. Intake of vegetables was inadequate. The micronutrient deficiencies for both girls and boys were zinc, calcium, and vitamin C. Further girls were also deficient in iron. The major constraints revealed by the interview were low fees which made it difficult to buy adequate food for the students. The study concluded that the students have a diet that lacked variety. Based on these results it was recommended that the school should increase variety of foods by including fruits and dairy products in the school menu.
