Nutrition Education in Schools

Study Notes

Health promotion from early stages in life can have a major impact on health and well-being during childhood and later stages.
During school age, children make their own food choices and take personal decisions regarding what they eat, influenced by friends, peers, and social models.
Family influence decreases, while friends and peers become key influencers on eating practices.

Behavioural focus: strengthen skills, influence attitudes, and behavioural capability.
Theory-driven strategies: develop self-efficacy and self-assessment elements.
Adequate time and intensity: allocate sufficient time and resources for change.
Family involvement: involve parents and community members to support healthy lifestyles.
Multicomponent strategies: combine education, environment, and behaviour changes.
Developmentally appropriate: consider needs of students, teachers, and school.
Cultural relevance: address cultural differences in nutrition education.
Teacher training opportunities: provide training for teachers to support healthy lifestyles.

Policy strategies: formal and informal rules to guide individual and group behaviour.
School food policies: provide nutritionally adequate food, consistent with classroom messages.
School meals: a valuable opportunity for nutrition education.

Nutrition education curricula: aim to provide knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy to adopt a healthful diet and physical activity levels.
Research on teaching methods: develop novel approaches and intervention strategies.
Allocate time and resources: achieve change and support healthy lifestyles.
Teacher training: increases awareness, motivates teachers, and enhances self-efficacy.

Creative, engaging, inexpensive, and widely disseminated: strategies to promote healthy lifestyles.
Involve parents and community members: support healthy lifestyles and environmental changes.