Relationship Between the Level of Knowledge and Street Food Consumption Patterns with Nutritional Status of Children Towi Kusmandayu and Lailatul Muniroh + Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Airlangga University Surabaya Indonesia Abstract. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between knowledge level and street food consumption patterns with nutritional status of children. This study is an observational analytic with cross sectional design. The population was the students in grade IV and V Elementary School of Keputran I and III Tegalsari Surabaya. The sampling technique was simple random sampling. Data analyzed by Spearman test. The results showed there was no correlation between the level of knowledge about street food and nutritional status (p> 0,05), there was a correlation between the level of energy and protein intakes of total food and nutritional status (p <0,01), there was no correlation between consumption levels of energy and protein snacks and nutritional status (p> 0,05), and there was a correlation between energy and protein contribution of street food with low nutritional status (p <0,05). The conclusion is the street food contributes to sufficiency level of energy and protein. Knowledge about the snacks does not affect nutritional status. The nutritional status of children is not only influenced by consumption of street food but also by the level consumption of total food consumed daily. Keywords: Level of knowledge, Street food, Nutritional status, Elementary school children 1. Introduction Food is always associated with human efforts to preserve life and running life, such as convalescence, activity, growth and development. One type of food is widely consumed and has become an integral part of community life, both in urban and rural is snack food (street food). Street food consumption in the community are increase because the limited time of family members to process the food by themselves. Data from the National Socio Economic Survey conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics (2004) showed that the percentage of family expenditures for street food in Indonesia reached 18,84% per capita per week of total family expenditures for food and beverages, or 10,36% of the total family expenditure [1]. Street food is one of the potential to contribute the nutrient intake for school-age children in everyday life, in addition to main meals which include energy 36%, protein 29% and 52% iron. The snack food has an important role on the growth and learning achievement of school children[2]. Various studies that have been conducted on school children both in urban and rural areas in Indonesia, found the fact that in general the height and weight average primary school children are under the normal size is accompanied by a nutritional deficiency. Not rare in primary school children found signs of nutritional disorders [3]. Based on the results of the National Household Health Survey (NHHS) 2004 [4] shows that good nutrition at school age children and adolescents aged 5-17 years by 74%, with 18% less nutrition and 8% over nutrition. The highest prevalence of malnutrition in school age children are 21%. Based on research in Surakarta (2008) street foods favored by school age children are interesting foods that are colored, tasty, packed attractive, has not been tried by the child and give a gift in it. The preferred type of beverage is an interesting color, taste sweet, refreshing and also giving a gift. Most of these street foods have a low nutrient content [5]. + Corresponding author. Tel : +62315964808; fax : +62315964809 Email address: lailagizi@gmail.com 30 2012 International Conference on Nutrition and Food Sciences IPCBEE vol. 39 (2012) © (2012) IACSIT Press, Singapore