For the purpose of carrying out nutrition counseling effectively and efficiently, this study assessed the nutrition counseling practice, perception and nutrition knowledge of elementary school children in Gyeongbuk province. Survey questionnaires were distributed between November 2009 and December 2009 to 100 nutrition counseling experienced children (participants) and 110 nutrition counseling non-experienced children (non-participants) and were completed with nutrition teachers' assistance. According to the survey results, girls and overweight/obese children showed higher tendency of participation in nutrition counseling (p<0.001). Participants who took nutrition counseling according to their own intentions showed satisfaction after counseling on diverse subjects such as obesity, unbalanced diet, and weight control. Particularly, 'lack of counseling session time', 'unfavorable counseling condition' or 'difficult explanation' caused participants unsatisfaction after counseling. Participants usually perceived the meaning of nutrition counseling more correctly than non-participants and showed positive intentions for taking further counseling in the future(p<0.001). Diet good for weight control, good food to fix unbalanced diet and diet good for growing stature were the top three subjects of nutrition counseling chosen by subjects (p<0.001). Participants also showed higher nutrition knowledge scores than non-participants. Therefore, it is critically important to apply nutrition counseling in the proper environment (counseling room, time, teaching materials, etc) to elementary school students to fix healthy food habits. Therefore, nutrition teachers need to be provide professional nutrition counseling skills and knowledge.