Selection of target nutrients for the nutritional standards of school lunches in Korea

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to select target nutrients to be included in the nutritional standards of school lunches in Korea. The dietary intake data for children and adolescents aged 6–17 years old from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI were analyzed for eight groups based on gender and age (6–8, 9–11, 12–14, and 15–17 years old). First, the usual intake of 3091 subjects was estimated and assessed to identify nutrients with insufficient or excessive intake prevalence. Along with the nutrients identified by the assessment, the energy and nutrients prioritized in the meal planning procedure of the 2015 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans were the initial candidates; these nutrients and energy include the percentages of energy from carbohydrates, protein, and fat; vitamin A; riboflavin; niacin; vitamin C; calcium; phosphorus; sodium; and iron. Phosphorus was excluded as a result of there being little evidence of clinical symptoms caused by its insufficient intake. Sodium was excluded because reliable data on added salt were not available among the school lunch recipes in Korea. Therefore, energy; the percentages of energy from carbohydrates, protein, and fat; vitamin A; riboflavin; niacin; vitamin C; calcium; and iron were selected to be included in the nutritional standards for school lunches in Korea.