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Coordination of Classroom Nutrition Education with School Nutrition Services Programs in California Schools
Author(s) -
Jones Anna M,
Briggs Marilyn,
Pitchford Julie Boarer,
ZidenbergCherr Sheri
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.896.11
Subject(s) - respondent , nutrition education , medical education , medicine , psychology , gerontology , political science , law
The objective of this research was to determine the extent to which school nutrition services personnel provide nutrition education to students, and whether they coordinate with classroom education. A web link to the Nutrition Education Survey was sent to all School Nutrition Programs listserv subscribers, which is maintained by the California Department of Education. The survey received 612 responses, all of which were from individuals employed in programs participating in the National School Lunch Program. The average respondent was a school nutrition director in a district with less than 2,500 students and a free and reduced price eligibility of 75 to 100 percent. The majority of respondents agreed that nutrition education was not a part of their job description or duties (59%), however 72% indicated that the nutrition services program is involved in nutrition education in the school or district. School nutrition staff provided informal nutrition education in the lunchrooms of 63% of respondent districts. Coordination of school lunch with classroom nutrition education occurred in almost half of respondent districts (48%), and more than half of respondents agreed that classroom nutrition education is consistent with the food served in the school meals programs (64%). Approximately half of respondents collaborated with teachers in providing nutrition education (54%). Support from teachers, staff, or outside experts occurred in 60% of respondent districts. In summary, while involvement of school nutrition programs in nutrition education was reported by a majority of respondents, only half of respondents are coordinating or collaborating with teachers in providing nutrition education. This indicates opportunities exist to expand coordinated, school‐wide nutrition education programs. Support or Funding Information Funding for this study was provided, in part, by the California Department of Education.