Food Culture And Its Sources For Gifted Students In The Intermediate Stage In Najran Region, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The current research aimed to reveal the reality of nutritional culture and its sources among talented female students at the intermediate stage in Najran region. The data of the research were collected using the interview guide by conducting semi-regulated in-depth interviews with 30 talented students who were enrolled and constantly attending the Gifted Center in Najran, their ages ranged between 13-15 years. The data were collected using the interview guide by conducting semi-structured in-depth interviews during the months of September and October 2021 AD, and using the qualitative approach in analyzing the data. The most important results of the research were concluded: that the vast majority did not mention water as a main component of food, and that the majority did not consider fats and carbohydrates within healthy food. There is also a confusion between food groups and nutrients, and that the majority of participants know the names of some mineral salts and vitamins that are frequent in daily life regardless of whether they belong to any group, and the majority of participants are aware of one function and one food source for each vitamin and mineral salt under study, in While all participants do not know the symptoms of its increase, while the majority do not know omega 3, and that the causes leading to obesity from the participants' point of view are excessive eating, fast food and soft drinks, genetic factors and lack of physical activity. As for the damages of obesity, the most important psychological damages, and for prevention methods and treatment of obesity, the participants mentioned healthy eating and not overeating. The participants attributed the anemia disease to iron deficiency or lack of vitamin B12 or vitamin C in the meal only, and that the damages of anemia were constant fatigue and exhaustion and the inability to carry out routine daily tasks. As for methods of prevention and treatment of anemia, the answer was to eat foods containing iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin C. As for the nutritional habits of the participants, it became clear that most of them depend on eating breakfast from the school canteen, and that more than a third of the participants eat fruits and vegetables once a week, while the majority consume soft drinks and fast food daily, while a third of the participants eat dinner. The nutritional information showed that the mother ranked first, followed by social networking sites, while television came in the third place, while the academic courses came in the fourth place, followed by personal experience, while the sisters were in the sixth place, while friends were in the seventh place, then relatives , while no nutritionist participation or courses in nutrition were mentioned, and the results were discussed and in light of this, a total of A set of  recommendations and proposed research.