Abstract

The following study has been conducted by carrying out the nutrition education program for preschool children and measuring the change in their food preference and nutritional knowledge. The 28 boys and 22 girls with the average height of 117.4 +/- 5.1 cm and weight 21.8 +/- 3.5 kg participated in the study. The favorite foods of the children were: meat (51.1%) being the highest, fruits (38.3%), carbohydrates (23.4%), while the least favored food was vegetables (75%). It indicated that 36.2% of the children were having unbalanced diets. The change in food preference after the implementation of the nutrition education program was the significant increase in preference in vegetables and fruits (p < 0.01) and proteins such as meat, fish, eggs and beans (p < 0.05). The differences in food preference among boys and girls were that the boys showed significant increase in vegetables and fruits (p < 0.01) while there was a decrease in the simple sugar groups (p < 0.01). Regarding girls, there were significant increases in vegetables and fruits as well as protein groups of meat, fish, eggs and beans (p < 0.01). The changes in the nutritional knowledge of the preschool children after the implementation of the nutrition education program were scores for the fruits and vegetables group and carbohydrates group showed a significant increase while the scores for the oil and nuts group had decreased considerably. The average score on nutritional knowledge has significantly increased from 9.07 to 10.17 (p < 0.01) and the score on the roles of the nutrients increased from 3.02 to 3.48 (p < 0.05). The changes in eating habits of the children after the nutrition education were the answer for the change in eating habits of the children after the nutrition education was "slight change" 61.4%. Also, the change in food preference was "slight change" 61.4% and the improvement in nutrition education was "slightly" 50%. According to the results of this study, it is evident that the change in eating habits and the acquisition of nutritional knowledge is very difficult, thus requiring consistent and prolonged education. Therefore, it seems to be best to include a more systematic and professional nutrition education program in preschool education. Also, the education for the parents should be implemented since the effect of education on children is greater when it is closely connected with the education at home.

• Keywords: nutrition education; preschool children; food preference; nutritional knowledge