Nutritional Assessment of School Feeding Programme Meals Served in Public Primary Schools in Gombe State, North East Nigeria

The National Home Grown School Feeding Programme was established to improve nutrition, school enrolment, and retention among primary school children in Nigeria. Gombe State in the North East geopolitical zone has actively participated in this programme, yet limited independent nutritional assessments of meals served have been conducted. This study assessed the nutritional adequacy of meals served under the school feeding programme in thirty public primary schools across three Local Government Areas in Gombe State. Menu documentation, meal quantity measurements using standard household measures, and proximate analysis of collected samples were conducted over twelve school weeks. Nutritional adequacy was compared against the Food and Agriculture Organization recommended dietary allowances for school-age children aged 6 to 12 years. Results revealed that the majority of meals met energy requirements, with a mean energy content of 648 kcal per meal. However, protein content averaged 12.8g per serving, falling below the recommended 20g. Iron, zinc, and vitamin A levels were consistently below recommended intakes. Meals were predominantly carbohydrate-centred, with limited vegetable and legume diversity. The study recommends revising programme menus to include protein-rich legumes, dark green leafy vegetables, and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. Nutritionist involvement in menu planning is strongly advised for the Gombe State School Feeding Programme. Keywords: school feeding, nutritional adequacy, primary schools, dietary assessment, Gombe.