Dietary and nutrient intakes of school girls in Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

The present study was carried out on school girls aged 10-18 years of Kathmandu district with the objective to assess the dietary and nutrient intakes of these girls. Data of three days dietary and nutrient intakes were collected using 24 hr recall method. The major findings of the study have shown that the intake of fats and oils, sugars and roots and tubers exceeded 60% of the amounts recommended by the ICMR, whereas intake of protective foods such as pulses, green leafy vegetables and fruits were less than 50% of the suggested balanced diet. Mean intake of nutrients such as fat, niacin, ascorbic acid and phosphorus exceeded the recommended dietary intakes (RDIs), whereas intake of energy, protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A and folic acid were lower than RDIs. But intake of none of the nutrients was less than 50% of RDIs.