Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the difference of perception about nutritional problems and food intakes and nutrition knowledge score and realities of nutrition education between parents and preschool teachers. This research can be summarized as follows: there was the statistical difference of perception (${\chi}^2$= 52.451, p = 0.000) about nutritional problem of preschoolers between parents and preschool teachers. Parents (56.4%) and teachers (58.5%) identified eating only what they want as the most common nutritional problem of children, but they had different perception about the other problems. To parents, "No nutritional problem" (16.3%) is the second and "Overindulgence of processed food" (11.1%) is the third problem of preschoolers. To teachers, "Overindulgence of processed food" (23.8%) is the second and "Obesity" (14.3%) is the third problem. The perception on food intakes of preschoolers was statistically different in meats (${\chi}^2$= 8.892, p = 0.030), fish (${\chi}^2$= 32.241, p = 0.000), beans (${\chi}^2$= 14.770, p = 0.005), vegetables (${\chi}^2$= 12.706, p = 0.013), fruits (${\chi}^2$= 14.438, p = 0.006) and milk & dairy products (${\chi}^2$= 28.591, p = 0.000) between parents and preschool teachers. However, nutritional knowledge was not different between parents and preschool teachers. While 96.6% of preschool teachers felt that it was necessary to educate preschoolers, only 41.5% of them said that they fulfilled nutrition education, showing that nutrition education was not adequately carried out on the spot. Therefore providing basic materials through which nutritional management guidance and proper nutrition education for preschoolers can be carried out by investigating and analyzing knowledge on their nutrition and meal guidance activities for preschooler teachers and parents.

Keywords

• preshoolers;
• perception difference between parents and teachers;
• nutrition problems;
• food intakes