The role of nutrition education for correct nutrition in toddlers

Introduction: Knowledge and awareness of nutrition recommendations may determine compliance with the principles of proper nutrition, and translate into improved quality of the diet of children in nurseries. The aim of the study was to evaluate the educational program in nurseries, including its impact on improving the planning and nutrition of children. Material and methods: The research was conducted in 2015 and repeated in 2016 in the randomly selected nurseries in Poland, which took part in the program “Healthy eating, healthy growing”. In 2015, 59 nurseries were included in the study, and in 2016 – 86 nurseries, respectively. In both surveys CATI method was used. Phone interviews were conducted with directors of DCC, data were collected by trained interviewers. Respondents were asked about selected facts about the nutrition education implemented within the program. Results: It was found that nurseries evaluated project very highly in terms of merit content as well as usefulness of the acquired information in the daily menu planning for children. The topics of the workshops were extensive, the most interesting of which were reflected in the declarations of nutritional changes in participating institutions. Conclusions: Although the educational offer of the program was highly evaluated, the inclusion of such education offered for a fee did not find interest in the institution. In our program education was provided free of charge, which definitely influenced its positive acceptance.