The Relevance of Revising Food Supply Norms for Students of Cadet-Type Boarding Schools

Abstract

Summary. Introduction: At present, training of highly qualified military personnel including cadet corps students acquires special importance. Educational programs in cadet corps provide for high daily physical activity of students. At the same time, daily food rationing regulated by current sanitary norms and rules does not comply with higher energy expenditures of such students. The purpose of our study was to substantiate a healthy diet of students of boarding schools taking into account their total daily energy expenditures, calorie needs and requirements for micro- and macronutrients ensuring a high level of functional state of the body, high mental and physical performance. Materials and methods: We studied indicators of health status and physical development of cadets based on the results of medical examinations, results of assessing daily physical activity, and school meals. Daily timekeeping and pulse measurements were used to estimate daily energy expenditures and activity levels. Evaluation of nutrition was based on the analysis of a cyclic menu, process charts, menu layouts, and catering hours. Conclusions: The regulated daily norms of food products adopted in cadet corps subordinate to the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation are significantly lower than actual energy expenditures of their students. This reality determines the necessity of revising food rationing. Draft guidelines for hygienic justification of the recommended diet for students with a higher level of physical activity have been developed. The proposals for improvement of boarding school meals were included in the appropriate sanitary rules and regulations within the framework of the regulatory guillotine.