A FS SchoolNutritionEd 508

Opportunities for Nutrition
Education in US Schools
Schools play an IMPORTANT ROLE in helping students establish
healthy eating behaviors, by providing:
• nutritious and appealing foods and beverages
EROM
• consistent DDaccurate
and A messages about good nutrition
OT SEIGGEV
• ways to learn about and practice healthy eating.1
YAD RUOY
NUTRITION EDUCATION is a vital part of a comprehensive health
education program and EMPOWERS CHILDREN with knowledge
and skills TO MAKE HEALTHY EATING CHOICES.2-8
US students receive less 40-50 HOURS

NEEDED FOR
than 8 hours of required BEHAVIOR

CHANGE
nutrition education each

HIGH SCHOOL:
school year,9 far below the 40–50 hours MIDDLE SCHOOL:
7.0 HOURS
that are needed to affect behavior change. 10,11 ELEMENTARY: 5.6 HOURS
4.6 HOURS
Additionally, the percentage of schools providing
required instruction on nutrition and dietary behaviors
decreased from 84.6% to 74.1% between 2000 and 2014.9
Data from CDC’s School Health Policies and Practices Study, 20149
Given the important role that diet plays in preventing chronic Because schools face many demands, schools can consider
diseases and supporting good health, schools would ideally ways to integrate nutrition education into the existing
provide students with more hours of nutrition education schedule.11,13 This approach can help provide students with
instruction using multicomponent and multilevel approaches.5, 12 appropriate amounts and types of nutrition education.
This can include addressing policy and environmental changes
at the same time as providing nutrition education and engaging
teachers and parents in the nutrition education activities.
Schools can include nutrition education throughout the school day.
CS 308155-A September 16, 2019

GGIES
ORE TOIn the classroom Nutrition education
S TO helps students
UR DAY
Nutrition education can take place in the classroom, either
through a stand-alone health education class or integrated
DAY
into other subjects including:2,5
• counting with pictures of fruits and vegetables.
learn to:
• learning fractions by measuring ingredients
for a recipe.
• examining how plants grow.
Eat a variety of foods within
• learning about cultural food traditions. each food group.
Nutrition education that is part of comprehensive health
education should align with the National Health Education
Standards,ADD
3
MOREthe characteristics of an
and incorporate
effective health education curriculum.2 Limit foods and
VEGGIES TO
YOUR DAY
beverages high in
Farm to school added sugars, solid fat,
Farm-to-school programs vary in each school or district,
but often include purchasing and serving local or
and sodium.
regionally produced foods in the school meal programs;
educating students about agriculture, food, health, and
A
nutrition; and engaging students in hands-on learning
Choose whole V
opportunities through gardening, cooking lessons, or
farm field trips. Farm-to-school activities help students
learn about nutrition and agriculture, try new foods, and
grain products.
consume more fruits and vegetables.14-17
School gardens Follow an eating pattern that

School garden programs can increase students’ nutrition supports healthy growth
knowledge, willingness to try fruit and vegetables, and positive
attitudes about fruits and vegetables.18-22 School gardens vary in and development.
size and purpose. Schools may have window sill gardens, raised
beds, greenhouses, or planted fields. Students can prepare the
soil for the garden, plant seeds, harvest the fruits and vegetables,
and taste the food from the garden. Produce from school gardens
can be incorporated into school meals or taste tests. Classroom
teachers can teach lessons in math, science, history and
language arts using the school garden.
In the cafeteria
Cafeterias are learning labs where students are exposed
to new foods through the school meal programs, see what
Nutrition education can be
incorporated THROUGHOUT
VEGGIES TO
balanced meals look like, and may be encouraged to try new

ADD MORE
YOUR DAY
foods through verbal prompts from school nutrition staff 23

or taste tests.24-25 Cafeterias may also be decorated with
nutrition promotion posters or student artwork promoting
THE SCHOOL DAY through
healthy eating.24 age-appropriate activities.
Other opportunities during This provides flexibility for
the school day schools to tailor programs
ADD MORE
VEGGIES TO
Messages about nutrition and healthy eating can be incorporated
into morning announcements, school assemblies, materials sent
for their environment, daily
YOUR DAY home to parents and guardians,24 staff meetings, and parent
teacher group meetings. Nutrition posters and artwork can be
schedule, and resources.
displayed in hallways, school entryways, gymnasium, cafeteria,
and classrooms. These strategies can help ensure that students
see and hear consistent information about healthy eating across
the school campus and at home.2
YOUR D
cdc.gov/healthyschools/nutrition/school_nutrition_education.htm

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Opportunities for Nutrition

US students receive less 40-50 HOURS

than 8 hours of required BEHAVIOR

nutrition education each

Schools can include nutrition education throughout the school day.

CS 308155-A September 16, 2019

School gardens Follow an eating pattern that

balanced meals look like, and may be encouraged to try new

foods through verbal prompts from school nutrition staff 23

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