SCHOOL-BASED interventions can improve the eating behavior of children, a study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology and Food and Research Food and Nutrition Research Institute said.

Involved in the study were school children aged seven to nine enrolled in selected public elementary schools and their mothers or caregivers.

“A complete package of nutrition intervention composed of feeding and nutrition classes was pilot-tested in selected schools to determine changes in nutrition attitude and behavior, and food intake of schoolchildren after the intervention,” DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña reported over the weekend.

The findings showed that mothers reported improved mean attitude scores of children and better behavior in terms of increased intake of milk and vegetables and decreased consumption of sugar.

The improvements were supported by actual food intake of children obtained from 24-hour food recall, according to the research.

“Based from the study findings in which the intervention package resulted in a substantial improvement in children’s behavior and actual food intake, the adoption of intervention package in public elementary school is being recommended,” De la Pena said.

The research output will come out in the “Nutrition Research Practice Journal.”