Web-Based Decision Support System for School Meal Planning

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity is on the rise among school children globally and recent reports by several institutions have linked this fact to heightened risk from potential chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. Many elementary school students from lower socio-economic groups are especially at risk. Hence it is important for both parents and school officials to understand the benefits of healthy weight and promote suitable changes to the eating habit of children. Acquiring sufficient and appropriate nutrition during childhood will lessen the risk of nutrition-related health problems and lead to a better quality adulthood. A school meal planner with a recommender option is a helpful tool to allow parents and school to plan a nutritionally balanced meal schedule for children. This paper presents a web-based meal planning decision support system (DSS) for parents and schools to provide suitable dietary meals for elementary school students. A demonstration website for the developed system has been implemented online (http://mealplanner.hyperhub.net).