An Investigation into Food Balance and Its Relationship to the Physical Activity Practised within the School Context for Both Males and Females Aged 10-13 Years

Abstract

Abstract:The preliminary aim of this study was to reach food balance (quantitative and qualitative) of the meals provided by the school canteen at the Wilaya of Tieret, and its relationship to the physical activity practised, adequately through using a definite method to weight the amounts of food distributed for the meals, and to calculate the energetic expenditure of the physical activity, with an informative exploration of data and the value standards of the dispensed energy that is highly recommended by the (CNRS/CNERA 1992) center. The results of the main findings revealed that the value of macronutrients was smaller than the approved standards. Additionally, the value of the total protein weight per a day was 49.23 g, the fat value as 24.11 g and carbohydrate value as 190.87 g. The results showed also that protein diversity, animal and vegetal fats did not match the standards since the animal protein ratio was 27.76% and the vegetal as 72.24% from the whole total of protein. The percentage of the vegetal fat was 43.49% and the animal 56.31%. Moreover, there is a weak correlation between the value of the expended and consumed energy. The Pearson's coefficient of males reached 0.09-and 0.39-for females. Furthermore, the value of the consumed energy did not fit the standards recommended for both males and females ages between 10/13 years old. On the basis of the previous pieces of information, we majorly recommend the achievement of a similar investigation for the rest parts of the country in order to reach a balanced nutrition for our children on internal schools.