Food and nutrition education in private Indian secondary schools

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha Rathi ◽  
Lynn Riddell ◽  
Anthony Worsley
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
School Food ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nutrition Curriculum ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
Food And Nutrition Education

Purpose The current Indian secondary school curriculum has been criticised for its failure to deliver relevant skills-based food and nutrition education for adolescents. The purpose of this paper is to understand the views of adolescents, their parents, teachers and school principals on the present food and nutrition curriculum and the role of the schools in developing food skills. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were held with 15 students aged 14-15 years, 15 parents, 12 teachers and ten principals in ten private schools in Kolkata, India. The interview questions were primarily based on the content, merits and demerits of the curriculum. The digitally recorded data were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Findings All the 52 interviewees observed that the food and nutrition curriculum created awareness in students about the importance of healthy eating. However, they also described certain weaknesses of the curriculum. These included lack of practical assignments, an out-dated and a limited curriculum, which failed to initiate critical thinking and was contradicted by sales practices in the school food environment. The interviewees prioritised the inclusion of food skills in the curriculum. Practical implications The emerging evidence suggests the need for the development of a skills-focussed food and nutrition curriculum to encourage healthy eating behaviours among adolescents. Originality/value Most of the work on food and nutrition education has come from developed nations – this is the first study in the Indian context of the secondary school food and nutrition curriculum.

Secondary school students’ views of food and nutrition education in Kolkata, India

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (3) ◽  
pp. 310-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha Rathi ◽  
Lynn Riddell ◽  
Anthony Worsley
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Barriers To Learning ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nutrition Curriculum ◽  
Dietary Behaviours ◽  
Food And Nutrition

Purpose School-based nutrition education programmes have the potential to reinforce healthy dietary behaviours in adolescents. The purpose of this paper is to understand the views of secondary school students in Kolkata, India, regarding the food and nutrition curriculum, food skill acquisition at school and home and barriers to learning food skills. Design/methodology/approach The sample of 1,026 year nine students was drawn from nine private, English-speaking secondary schools in Kolkata, India to participate in a cross-sectional, self-reported paper-based survey. Data analyses including descriptive statistics and χ2 analyses were performed. Findings The majority of the respondents (65.3 per cent) were female. Biology, Home Science and Life skills classes were the main places in which students acquired food and nutrition knowledge. Almost two-thirds of the respondents acknowledged the importance of acquiring food-related knowledge and skills. Approximately half (48.3 per cent) reported that the food and nutrition curriculum involved excessive memorisation while around the same proportion described the curriculum as interesting (47 per cent) and easy to comprehend (50.3 per cent). However, relatively few students said they enjoyed attending food and nutrition classes (38.7 per cent). Only a minority reported receiving food skills training, i.e. cooking skills (23 per cent), meal planning skills and food purchasing skills (12.3 per cent) at school. Despite some parental support received at home, time constraints (50.5 per cent) and lack of interest (26.3 per cent) were cited as prominent barriers to learning food skills. Practical implications These data underscore the need for a skills-focussed food and nutrition curriculum to improve Indian adolescents’ food-related skills, nutritional knowledge and dietary behaviours. Originality/value This is the first cross-sectional survey to investigate the delivery of nutrition education and food skills in the Indian school context.

scholarly journals Parents’ and teachers’ views of the promotion of healthy eating in Australian primary schools

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gozde Aydin ◽  
Claire Margerison ◽  
Anthony Worsley ◽  
Alison Booth
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
School Nutrition ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
School Food ◽  
Role Modelling ◽  
Healthy Eating Habits

Abstract Background Primary schools have long been identified as appropriate settings for improving the healthy eating behaviours of children and helping them develop food skills. This qualitative study explored the views of Australian primary school parents and teachers about schools’ strengths and weaknesses in promoting healthy eating and equipping children with food skills. Methods Nineteen parents and 17 teachers from Victoria participated in semi-structured interviews. Audio recordings were transcribed and underwent thematic analysis using Nvivo. Results This study demonstrated that parents and teachers believed that several facilitators helped promote children’s healthy eating. These included food and nutrition education (FNE) programs, the community-based nature of schools, and teacher role modelling and the authority schools possess over children. Time scarcity, lack of teacher expertise, lack of leadership and funding were reported as barriers. School food environments such as canteens, lunch orders, fundraising events and school fairs were identified as both weaknesses and strengths by parents and teachers, which indicated inconsistent implementation of school nutrition policies across schools. Conclusions Australian primary schools demonstrate some useful efforts to promote healthy eating among children. However, there are numerous facilitators and barriers which impact on the promotion of healthy eating. These factors need to be addressed in order to develop healthy eating habits further among elementary students. These results provide directions for policymakers and school managers, as they point to the areas that need to be improved to assist the design of schools that better promote healthy eating among children.

Food and nutrition education in Australian primary schools: parents' views

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gozde Aydin ◽  
Alison Booth ◽  
Claire Margerison ◽  
Anthony Worsley
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
School Children ◽  
Parental Support ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
Food And Nutrition Education

PurposePrimary schools provide continuous, intensive contact with large numbers of children starting from a young age, thus providing an appropriate setting for the promotion of healthy eating through food and nutrition education (FNE). This qualitative study explores the views of Australian primary school parents about FNE in primary schools.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 19 parents of primary school children from Victoria participated in semi-structured interviews. Audio recordings were transcribed and underwent thematic analysis using Nvivo. A total of three themes emerged: FNE topics currently taught in primary schools, essential food skills and knowledge for primary school children and the importance of FNE.FindingsMost parents thought that FNE is as important as the core subjects of primary school. Parental support for FNE, which is delivered over a prolonged period, and expanded by hands-on content such as cooking and gardening classes was evident. Parents viewed these classes as likely to improve children's food-related knowledge and healthy eating behaviours. Parents expressed appreciation for schools' emphasis on food sustainability and its alignment with school policies and practices. Parents were keen to see more sustainability included in the curriculum.Practical implicationsThese results may have implications for curriculum developers and schools, as the findings can assist the design of food and nutrition curricula for primary schools which can empower children as well as their families to make better food-related decisions.Originality/valueAustralian parents' views of FNE in primary schools have been under examined.

Teachers' self-efficacy beliefs in teaching food and nutrition subjects in Australian secondary schools

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Janandani Nanayakkara ◽  
Claire Margerison ◽  
Anthony Worsley
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Classroom Management ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Food System ◽  
Efficacy Beliefs ◽  
Nutrition Information ◽  
School Food ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food And Nutrition

PurposeTeachers play important roles in school food and nutrition education. This study aims to explore Australian teachers' self-efficacy beliefs (i.e. belief in their own capabilities to perform specific teaching tasks) in teaching secondary school food and nutrition-related subjects.Design/methodology/approachTeachers' overall self-efficacy beliefs in teaching these subjects (overall-SEB) and self-efficacy beliefs in teaching different food and nutrition-related topics (topics-SEB) were explored using a survey among 183 teachers in 2017. Principal components analysis derived three overall-SEB components: “Motivation and accommodation of individual differences”, “Classroom management” and “Communication and clarification” and three topics-SEB components: “Food system”, “Food and nutrition information” and “Food preparation”.FindingsOverall, higher percentages of teachers were confident or very confident in the majority of items that loaded on “Classroom management” and “Communication and clarification” compared to “Motivation and accommodation of individual differences”. Moreover, higher percentages of teachers were confident or very confident about items that loaded on “Food and nutrition information” and “Food preparation” compared” to “Food system”. The overall-SEB and topics-SEB were higher among more experienced teachers. There were moderate positive correlations between overall-SEB and topics-SEB components.Originality/valueThe exploration of broader aspects of self-efficacy beliefs related to teaching secondary school food and nutrition-related subjects makes this study unique. The findings highlight that these teachers had high self-efficacy beliefs in teaching food and nutrition education, but there are gaps in tailoring the teaching process to meet the diverse needs of students and teaching broader food-related topics.

Parents’ and teachers’ critique of nutrition education in Indian secondary schools

2019 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha Rathi ◽  
Lynn Riddell ◽  
Anthony Worsley
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
School Food ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nutrition Curriculum ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
The Status

PurposeNutrition education plays a significant role in inculcating lifelong healthy dietary behaviours among adolescents. The purpose of this paper is to understand the opinions of parents and teachers regarding nutrition education in private Indian secondary schools.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional, self-administered, paper-based survey comprising both closed- and open-ended questions was completed by 32 teachers and 280 parents who were recruited from five private English-speaking secondary schools in Kolkata, India. Descriptive and cross-tabulation analyses were conducted to compare the responses of teachers and parents. Thematic data analysis informed by template analysis technique was performed to evaluate the qualitative data.FindingsWhile the curriculum was considered interesting and easy to understand, the gendered nature of the curriculum, excessive rote learning and lack of synchrony between the curriculum and school food services were highlighted as shortcomings of the existing curriculum. The need for the dissemination of food skills either through a compulsory food and nutrition curriculum or through extra-mural activities was expressed by most respondents. Both these ideas were indicative of strong support and motivation for modification in the current curriculum.Practical implicationsThese findings emphasise the support for a skills-focussed food and nutrition curriculum to inculcate experiential culinary skills and comprehensive nutrition knowledge in Indian adolescents, thus improving their nutritional and health profiles.Originality/valueThis is the first cross-sectional survey to investigate the views of parents and teachers about the status of food and nutrition education in private Indian secondary schools.

scholarly journals Pictorial instrument of food and nutrition education for promoting healthy eating

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 917-928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flávia Gonçalves MICALI ◽  
Rosa Wanda DIEZ-GARCIA
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Brazilian Population ◽  
Obese Women ◽  
Food Composition Tables ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
Semiotic Resources ◽  
Food And Nutrition Education ◽  
Photo Production

ABSTRACT To trace the course of building a pictorial instrument that explores semiotic resources about food and nutrition education. The instrument is directed at the treatment and prevention of obesity, considering the food and nutrition problems of the Brazilian population. The criteria for photo production were: images that could cause visual impact and transmit applied nutrition information, insinuating positive and negative eating practices for promoting healthy eating, and preventing and treating obesity. Themes were created to guide photo production, and preparations, food composition tables, and food labels were used for composing the images. Focus groups were conducted with nonobese and obese women, and dietitians to evaluate image comprehension. The pictorial instrument totaled to 20 photos, with 5 photos in each of the following themes: 'Sweet life, being aware of sugar', about sugar content in sweets and drinks; 'Tasty food with little fat', about fat content in foods; 'Eating well by making the best choices', about food replacements; and 'I take care of myself by eating healthy food, about encouraging fruit and vegetable intakes. The photos contain food, meals, and semiotic resources. The pictorial instrument describes four relevant themes to approach food problems in the Brazilian population. It can easily be used for both preventing and treating obesity, and for promoting healthy eating.

scholarly journals Integration of Food and Nutrition Education Across the Secondary School Curriculum: Two Experiential Models as Two Case Studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Shirin Shakeri ◽  
Dorte Ruge ◽  
Judith Myers ◽  
Nicola Rolls ◽  
Lisa Papatraianou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Delivery Mode ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
Secondary School Curriculum ◽  
Food And Nutrition Education

The aim of this paper is to present the implementation and evaluation of two recognised programs, one from Australia and one from Denmark, that endeavour to integrate and enhance food and nutrition education across the secondary school curriculum and whole school programs. This paper details descriptions of design, delivery mode, core components and evaluation of each program based on existing detailed reports and original research investigations. Resultantly, one program in Australia (Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program) and one program in Denmark (LOMA or LOkal MAd = local food) are reported as two case studies. The target group for both programs is secondary school students in Years 7–12; both programs are conducted within secondary schools and within school hours. Both interventions focus on developing secondary students’ food production and food preparation knowledge and skills. Their evaluation methods have consisted of pre- and post-intervention surveys, single case study, and focus groups with both students and teachers. Both programs have reported possible integration across secondary school subjects and modifications in students’ knowledge and skills in food and nutrition. These programs have focused on developing an experiential and localised learning model for food and nutrition education, which may also address food insecurity concerns among adolescents which has been shown to correlate with poor nutrient intake and consequential health complications. Their overall model can be adapted taking into account the social, economic, and environmental context of a secondary school.

scholarly journals A qualitative study investigating food choices and perceived psychosocial influences on eating behaviours in secondary school students

2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 1027-1039
Author(s):  
Sian Calvert ◽  
Robert C. Dempsey ◽  
Rachel Povey
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
School Students ◽  
Content Type

PurposeChildhood obesity is a major global health concern. Understanding children's and adolescent’s eating behaviours and promoting healthier behaviours is key for reducing the negative health outcomes associated with obesity. The current study explored the perceptions of healthy eating behaviours and the influences on eating behaviours amongst 11-to-13-year-old secondary school students.Design/methodology/approachNine semi-structured same-sex focus group discussions were conducted in schools located in deprived areas of England, with the discussions subjected to a thematic framework analysis.FindingsThree main constructs were identified in the analysis as follows: (1) eating patterns and lifestyle, (2) social influences and (3) environmental influences. Participants understood what healthy eating behaviours are and the benefits of eating healthy; yet, they reported irregular mealtimes and consuming unhealthy snacks. Students reported that their parents and fellow student peers were strong influences on their own eating behaviours, with girls subjected to being teased by male students for attempting to eat healthily. Finally, students perceived that unhealthy foods were cheaper, tasted better and were readily available in their social environments compared to healthier options, making healthier behaviours less likely to occur.Originality/valueFindings indicate that students had a good understanding of healthy eating behaviours but did not always practise them and are seemingly influenced by their social and environmental context. The promotion of healthier eating in this age group needs to challenge the misperceptions associated with the accessibility and social acceptability of unhealthy food items.

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