INTERACTIONS BETWEEN A MID-DAY MEAL PROGRAM AND STUDENTS’ EDUCATION

The mid-day meal programme is one of the important strategies, and its main goal is to reduce education expenditures while also improving children's nutritional levels. Malnutrition and dietary deficiencies are common among schoolchildren, and they have a negative impact on their growth and development. Objective: To assess the influence of midday meals on the nutritional status of schoolchildren (6-12 years). Methodology: A cross-sectional study of 58 youngsters who eat midday meals on a daily basis was conducted. The anthropometric examination was carried out in line with ICMR Standard Values, which included height, weight, and the circumference of the mid upper arm (MUAC). Routine calorie intake and food consumption patterns were examined over the course of three days. The study found that while schoolchildren's average height and weight were much lower than ICMR norms, their mid-circumference values were comparable to those of standards regardless of their mid-day meals. The dietary extraction process revealed that micronutrient intake was insignificantly lower than the recommended levels.