Quality of Home Packed School Lunch Among Children Attending Kindergarten School in Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia, 2026

A balanced diet is critical for preschool aged children; meals must be sufficiently diverse to provide the essential nutrients required for rapid physical and cognitive development. Because dietary habits established in early childhood often persist into adulthood, prioritizing this age group is a cost-effective investment in long-term national health and productivity. However, the National Food Consumption Survey in Ethiopia indicates a significant gap in dietary quality, with only 20% of households across all age groups consuming five or more food groups. Implementing multi-component nutrition interventions is essential, as these strategies significantly influence both the eating habits and dietary preferences of preschool children.

NCT Number	NCT07506772
Lead Sponsor	Jimma University
Conditions	Healthy Eating, Food Preference, Nutritional Status
Enrollment	451 participants
Start Date	2026-01-01
Primary Completion	2026-06-24 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-06-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-04-07