Eating Healthy, Growing Healthy: Outcome Evaluation of the Nutrition Education Program Optimizing the Nutritional Value of Preschool Menus, Poland

Staff education can improve the quality of nutrition in childcare centers, but an objective assessment of the change is necessary to assess its effectiveness. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the multicomponent educational program for improving the nutritional value of preschools menus in Poland measured by the change in nutrients content before (baseline) and 3–6 months after education (post-baseline). A sample of 10 daily menus and inventory reports reflecting foods and beverages served in 231 full-board government-sponsored preschools was analyzed twice: at baseline and post-baseline (in total 4620 inventory reports). The changes in 1. the supply of nutrients per 1 child per day; 2. the nutrient-to-energy ratio of menus; 3. the number of preschools serving menus consistent with the healthy diet recommendations, were assessed. Education resulted in favorable changes in the supply of energy, fat and saturated fatty acids. The nutrient-to-energy ratio for vitamins A, B(1), B(2), B(6), C, folate and minerals Calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc increased significantly. The percentage of preschools implementing the recommendations for energy, share of fat, saturated fatty acids and sucrose as well as calcium, iron and potassium increased significantly. However, no beneficial effects of education on the content of iodine, potassium, vitamin D and folate were observed. This study indicates the potentially beneficial effect of education in optimizing the quality of the menu in preschools. However, the magnitude of change is still not sufficient to meet the nutritional standards for deficient nutrients.