FOURTH-GRADE STUDENTS’ AWARENESS AND EATING BEHAVIORS: A STUDY AT A MY HIEP PRIMARY SCHOOL, AN GIANG

Abstract

This study examines the awareness and eating behaviors of fourth-grade students at A My Hiep Primary School, An Giang Province, and proposes nutrition education orientations appropriate to the current primary education context. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted with 54 students using a questionnaire covering three main dimensions: awareness of healthy eating, daily eating behaviors, and the need for additional nutrition knowledge. The findings indicate that students had developed relatively positive initial awareness of several basic issues, including dietary diversity, the role of water, and balanced meals. However, their understanding was uneven across topics; more abstract and systematic knowledge such as nutrient groups and the food pyramid received lower mean scores. In terms of behavior, most students reported having breakfast and drinking water relatively regularly, while balanced intake across food groups and control of fast-food consumption remained limited. The results also suggest a certain relationship between awareness, learning interest, and classroom participation in nutrition-related activities. Based on these findings, the study recommends strengthening nutrition education through visual and experiential approaches, integrating nutrition content into Science lessons, and enhancing coordination among schools, families, and educational and health authorities to foster sustainable healthy eating habits among primary school students.