Published Paper Details:

Growth serves as the primary global indicator of children's well-being, and adequate food intake is crucial for proper growth. Nutrition plays a significant role during the growth phase. According to estimates from WHO and UNICEF, malnutrition impacts the physical and mental functions of 2 billion children. The aim of the present study was to examine the awareness of nutrition and food habits among school-going children in Jeypore town. The study utilized a cross-sectional descriptive survey design. Data was collected from 250 school children using purposive sampling. Clinical signs were noted during data collection to evaluate nutritional deficiency diseases. The means and t-test were applied for data analysis. The results indicated that the parents of the children were knowledgeable about the nutritive value of food. Nutritional deficiency disorders were identified based on clinical signs. It was determined that the children exhibited poor eating habits. Commonly, the children either skipped breakfast, purchased snacks or junk food, ate between meals, or consumed soft drinks daily. There were no significant differences between boys and girls regarding their mean responses to food nutritive value or the eating habits they adopted. Promoting good eating habits and providing nutritional counselling to both parents and school children will not only enhance their nutritional well-being but also help them overcome current nutritional deficiency diseases.