NUTRITION

This study assesses the influence of nutrition on mental development of school aged children in Easan West l. G. A. Edo State. Four research questions were asked and answered during the study using frequencies and percentages. The survey research design was adopted for this study; this is because the data is collected from a sample population with specific characteristics. The population of the study comprised of teacher from junior secondary schools in Esan West Local Government Area of Benin City, Edo State. Out of this population one hundred and fifty (150) sample was selected from the total population using randomly sampling technique. The instrument used to collect data for the study was fifteen items self-structured questionnaire. The instrument for the data collection was personally administered by the researcher to the respondents. The researcher explained to the respondents how to indicate their views on each item. On the basis of the findings made in the study, it was concluded that proper nutrition is a fundamental factor influencing the mental development of school-aged children. Nutritional deficiencies negatively impact cognitive function, academic performance, and overall well-being. The study also established those socioeconomic disparities significantly affect children's access to adequate nutrition, thereby creating an unequal learning environment. The researcher recommends that government and relevant stakeholders should ensure the implementation and sustainability of school feeding programs to provide children with balanced meals that support cognitive development. Also, the researcher recommends that regular nutrition education programs should beborganized to educate parents on the importance of a balanced diet and how to preparebaffordable yet nutritious meals for their children

This study examined the knowledge, attitude, and practice of nutrition and healthy eating habits among students of a tertiary institution in Benin City, Edo State. Poor nutrition and unhealthy eating behaviours among young adults have been recognized as major public health concerns, contributing to the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design and utilized a stratified sampling technique with convenience sampling to select 200 participants from different academic levels and faculties. A total of 200 structured questionnaires were distributed and duly completed, yielding a 100% response rate. Data were analysed us ing the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0, and results were presented in tables, charts, and figures using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that the majority of the students possessed good knowledge of nutrition and healthy eating habits, as indicated by a grand mean score of 1.8. Most respondents also exhibited positive attitudes toward proper nutrition, recognizing the importance of balanced diets, regular meals, and adequate hydration. However, despite their awareness, many students demonstrated poor eating practices, often skipping meals, consuming fast foods, and taking sugary beverages due to time constraints, limited finances, and the easy availability of junk foods. Hypothesis testing showed a significant relationship between students’ nutritional knowledge, attitudes, and their actual eating behaviours (p< 0.05). The study concludes that while students have good knowledge and favourable attitudes toward nutrition, these do not always translate into healthy dietary practices due to various socioeconomic and environmental barriers