Analysis of the nutritional value of school food

The purpose. Rational nutrition is one of the most important conditions for the normal growth of children, which includes physical and mental development, high resistance to various diseases and other environmental influences. Food is a source of necessary for a child plastic material and energy, which ensure normal metabolism and formation of organs and systems of the child's body. Otherwise, the body develops severe disorders that lead to developmental delays or the emergence of serious diseases, the consequences of which can be manifested throughout life. Findings. According to the resolution of the Ministry of Health from 22.08.2020, the organization of nutrition in educational institutions should be performed by distribution of prepackaged production in case of impossibility of providing children with hot food. However, there was dissatisfaction of parents of schoolchildren with the way food is provided in educational institutions. In particular, attention is focused on the uniformity of the diet, malnutrition and noncompliance with the norms of healthy eating in general. Six school breakfasts for grades 1-4 from two schools have been taken for the analysis, and their nutritional value has been calculated. Breakfast, according to the requirements, should contain 30-35% of nutrients from the daily norm. Analysis of the results of the study showed the following violations: compiling a menu taking into account the cost of food, rather than the physiological needs of children in biologically active substances; use of methods of reducing the volume and weight of dishes; non-compliance of basic products with the norms ofa diet (such as milk, vegetables, fruits); replacement of hot food with buffet products. In particular, none of the studied breakfast options meets the requirements for energy value, protein, fat and carbohydrate content

school meals; breakfasts; diet; nutritional value; energy value; proteins; fats; carbohydrates