The BUDS (Balanced nUtrition through Daily School meals) program improved school meal intake and promoted healthy growth and eating behaviors in elementary school children

IF 3.1 3区医学 Q2 NUTRITION & DIETETICS

Nutrition Research Pub Date : 2026-04-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-25 DOI:10.1016/j.nutres.2026.01.006

Minji Kang , Jungwon Park , Yoonha Kim , Kumhee Son , Kyung Hee Park , Hyunjung Lim

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Abstract

School meals play a critical role in the daily nutrition of children and the development of lifelong eating habits. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the BUDS (Balanced nutrition through daily school meals) program on school meal intake, eating behaviors, and weight-related outcomes among elementary school students in the Republic of Korea. We hypothesized that participation in the BUDS program would increase school meal intake and lead to improvements in weight status and eating behaviors. A total of 478 second- and third-grade students participated in the 6-month BUDS program, which included monthly nutrition education and strategies to promote school meal consumption. An artificial intelligence-based food scanner was utilized to objectively monitor daily school meal intake. Anthropometric measurements, eating behaviors (as measured by the Nutrition Quotient for Children, NQ-C), snack preferences, and dietary intake were assessed before and after the program. A total of 450 students completed the program, with a mean age of 8.0 ± 0.7 years. School meal intake increased from 69.1% to 77.0% (p < .001). The BMI z-scores of the underweight and normal weight groups demonstrated an upward trend, while the body fat percentage and fat-free mass of all groups exhibited an increase. Greater improvement in school meal intake was associated with higher odds of achieving or maintaining a normal weight (OR = 2.68, 95% CI = 1.27–5.65). A positive correlation was identified between meal intake and total NQ-C score (r = 0.216, p < .001). This correlation was also found to be specific to behaviors such as consuming diverse side dishes and reducing screen time. The school-based BUDS program demonstrated efficacy in increasing school meal intake, promoting healthier eating behaviors, and supporting healthy weight outcomes, particularly among underweight children.

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通过每日学校膳食平衡营养计划改善了学校膳食的摄入量，促进了小学生的健康成长和饮食行为。

学校供餐对儿童的日常营养和终生饮食习惯的养成起着至关重要的作用。本研究的目的是评估BUDS（通过每日学校膳食均衡营养）计划对韩国小学生的学校膳食摄入量、饮食行为和体重相关结果的影响。我们假设参加BUDS计划会增加学校膳食摄入量，并导致体重状况和饮食行为的改善。共有478名二年级和三年级学生参加了为期6个月的BUDS项目，其中包括每月营养教育和促进校餐消费的策略。利用基于人工智能的食物扫描仪客观监测每天的校餐摄入量。人体测量、饮食行为（通过儿童营养商数NQ-C测量）、零食偏好和饮食摄入量在项目前后进行了评估。共有450名学生完成该项目，平均年龄为8.0±0.7岁。学校供餐摄入量由69.1%提高到77.0% （p < 0.001）。体重过轻组和正常体重组的BMI z-score均呈上升趋势，体脂率和无脂质量均呈上升趋势。学校膳食摄入量的改善与达到或维持正常体重的几率较高相关（or = 2.68, 95% CI = 1.27-5.65）。膳食摄入量与NQ-C总分呈正相关（r = 0.216, p < 0.001）。这种相关性也被发现是特定于诸如食用各种配菜和减少屏幕时间等行为的。以学校为基础的BUDS项目在增加学校膳食摄入量、促进更健康的饮食行为和支持健康的体重结果方面表现出了有效性，特别是在体重不足的儿童中。

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来源期刊

Nutrition Research 医学-营养学

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

2.20%

发文量

107

审稿时长

58 days

期刊介绍： Nutrition Research publishes original research articles, communications, and reviews on basic and applied nutrition. The mission of Nutrition Research is to serve as the journal for global communication of nutrition and life sciences research on diet and health. The field of nutrition sciences includes, but is not limited to, the study of nutrients during growth, reproduction, aging, health, and disease. Articles covering basic and applied research on all aspects of nutrition sciences are encouraged, including: nutritional biochemistry and metabolism; metabolomics, nutrient gene interactions; nutrient requirements for health; nutrition and disease; digestion and absorption; nutritional anthropology; epidemiology; the influence of socioeconomic and cultural factors on nutrition of the individual and the community; the impact of nutrient intake on disease response and behavior; the consequences of nutritional deficiency on growth and development, endocrine and nervous systems, and immunity; nutrition and gut microbiota; food intolerance and allergy; nutrient drug interactions; nutrition and aging; nutrition and cancer; obesity; diabetes; and intervention programs.