ERIC Number: EJ1422091
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0313-7155
EISSN: EISSN-1837-6290
Available Date: N/A
Supporting Nutrition Education in Low Socioeconomic Schools in Western Australia
Issues in Educational Research, v34 n1 p58-76 2024
School-based nutrition education (NE) has an important role in promoting healthy eating habits and helping prevent chronic diseases--particularly among disadvantaged children and youth who are more likely to experience poor diet quality. However, teachers report being underprepared or time-poor in delivering NE and there is a growing trend for schools to outsource health-related content to external providers. This study evaluated the effect of an experiential NE session on Years 3-12 students (N = 1,714) and teachers (N = 178), developed and facilitated by a hunger relief charity for low socioeconomic schools that access a school breakfast program. The results showed significant increases (p < 0.001) in student knowledge and attitudes towards healthy eating. Teachers indicated they improved their knowledge of how to teach children about healthy eating and were motivated to include more NE in their teaching programs. The study shows that targeted, experiential NE sessions delivered by external experts can improve students' knowledge and attitudes toward healthy eating post-intervention and may reduce barriers to the provision of ongoing teacher-led NE. The opportunities for sustained impact in the context of a school breakfast program are discussed.
Descriptors: Nutrition Instruction, Low Income Students, Elementary Secondary Education, Student Attitudes, Teacher Attitudes, Partnerships in Education, Foreign Countries, Program Effectiveness, Eating Habits
Western Australian Institute for Educational Research Inc. 5/202 Coode Street, Como, Western Australia 6152, Australia. e-mail: editor@iier.org.au; Web site: http://www.iier.org.au/iier.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

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