Lunch acceptability of the School Nutritional Program and estimates of associated economic loss in the municipal district of Coquimbo, Chile

Adequate nutrition is a fundamental factor for optimal early childhood growth and development. In Chile, the School Nutritional Program aims to diminish the gap associated with access to the quantity and quality of food. The objective of this study was to determine the degree of acceptability of prepared lunches that are given to students by the School Nutritional Program and its association with economic losses. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 528 primary and secondary students from 5 public schools in the Coquimbo commune, who evaluated 6 lunches using the 9-point hedonic sensory scale, a survey of organoleptic characteristics, a ranking test and determination of the intake percentage to establish economic losses. Stratified probability sampling was performed, ANOVA for analysis of the hedonic scale and percentage of intake, contingency tables, Chi square tests were used for organoleptic characteristics (p<0.05). The thin sliced beef with noodles was found to have the highest preference and the lowest ranked meals were beans with noodles and fish cake with mashed potatoes (p<0.05). Preparations with lower acceptability represented 82.2% of economic losses and were mainly beans. The results confirm a low intake of fish and vegetables, that taste characteristics due to low salt content affect preferences and that there was a direct relationship between intake and economic loss.