Open AccessPossible Effects of a Free School Meal on School Environment: The School Meal Intervention in Norway
Author(s) -
Kristine Engebretsen Illøkken,
Nina Cecilie Øverby,
Berit Johannessen,
Frøydis Nordgård Vik
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of the international society for teacher education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2521-6015
pISSN - 1029-5968
DOI - 10.26522/jiste.v25i1.3660
Subject(s) - meal , school meal , intervention (counseling) , psychology , medicine , environmental health , nursing
Evidence suggests that a free school meal can improve children and adolescent diet, social environment, concentration, and school performance. This study aimed to investigate possible effects of a free, healthy school meal among students that usually eat packed meals on behavioral issues, inactiveness, self-efficacy, school enjoyment and classroom environment. A school meal according to the dietary guidelines was served to students in the intervention group (n=55) for one year. A control group consumed packed meals as usual (n=109). Students (10-12 years) responded to a questionnaire at baseline and after one year. We used linear regression analyses and did not find significant effects of a free school meal on behavioral issues (B= 0.01, p 0.86), inactiveness (B= -0.05, p 0.51), self - efficacy (B= -0.04, p 0.52), school enjoyment (B= 0.11, p 0.19) or classroom environment (B= -0.07, p 0.26). Methodological limitations might explain our lack of findings.