ALMAS KHURSHEED2025-08-212025-08-212023-10-20https://escholar.umt.edu.pk/handle/123456789/4958The present study was conducted to assess the nutritional status of school-going children through an exploration of their dietary habits. Emphasizing the significance of the first 1,000 days of life in shaping long-term health outcomes, particularly in combating non-communicable diseases and childhood overweight, the research underscores the principles of exclusive breastfeeding and the introduction of complementary meals without added salt or sugar. Focused on children aged 10 to 13 years in primary and high schools in Lahore, the study employed a cross-sectional approach with 200 randomly selected participants. Utilizing a self-structured questionnaire and chi-square test analysis, significant correlations between children's dietary habits and age were revealed, indicating a dynamic evolution of preferences over time.en-USThesis