Introduction: Adequate dietary intake plays a significant role in health, education, and learning, particularly among school students. This study aimed to determine the weekly consumption pattern and food preferences, emphasizing breakfast and snacks, among elementary school students in Gilan Province.
Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, elementary school students from 20 schools in selected cities of Gilan Province (academic year 2025–2026) were selected using multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected using a valid questionnaire on breakfast, snacks, and food groups and analyzed using SPSS software.
Results: The mean age of students was 10.96 ± 0.72 years. Nearly half of the students (41.9%) attended school without eating breakfast, and this rate was significantly higher in girls than in boys (p=0.03). Cheese sandwiches (32.8%) and biscuits/cake (24.3%) were the most common snacks. The total dietary pattern score in the whole population was 56.12 ±11.67. Analyses showed that the dietary pattern score among students in private schools (55.10±10.52) was significantly lower than that in public schools (57.14±12.64) (p=0.03). Moreover, significant associations were observed between parental education level and household income status and dietary pattern score (p<0.05). Despite students’ high preference for fruits and vegetables (51.3%), consumption of unhealthy snacks and fast foods was at an alarming level.
Conclusion: Skipping breakfast in nearly half of the students indicates the need for educational programs to encourage daily consumption of breakfast and dairy products. Attention to the role of snacks in meeting children’s needs can be beneficial for policymaking, appropriate planning, and improving their nutritional status.