The Impact Of Nutritional Messages On Students
Before-and-after measurement of students’ skills, motivations, and behaviors as they relate to healthy eating, once they are exposed to various forms of information, including curriculum materials and PSAs, and participation in food events.
This study was designed to measure the nature and magnitude of the Team Nutrition effort in 7 pilot school districts, which was a program established by the USDA designed to encourage healthier eating among children and was based upon interviews with students and their parents.
Three school districts noted formal nutrition education in the curriculum prior to this program.
All 4 school districts participating successfully completed most of the required activities.
An average, students received 12-33 hours of classroom curriculum and had the opportunity to participate in 4-10 school community activities during each phase.
End results suggest that changes in knowledge and motivation are necessary before any change in voluntary behavior will occur.
Team Nutrition had a significant positive impact on 2 of 3 skill based knowledge measures, which as maintained at the 6 month follow up.
Participants also showed positive changes in motivation to make healthy food choices.
Participants showed healthful changes in their self reported and observed nutrition behaviors; these students were more likely than students in comparison school to give more health responses when asked about their recent food choices.
Student nutritional behavior was found to be significantly related to those having a high nutrition knowledge and motivation at baseline, being female, having a high household income, having a greater number of positive role models, and by having a parent who attempted to influence their nutrition behavior.
In sum, these results show that Team Nutrition does lead to modest, but significant changes in self reported nutrition knowledge, motivation and behavior.