Models of School Health Eating Promotion and their Effectiveness Essay

Kriemler, S., Meyer, U., Martin, E., van Sluijs, E.M., Andersen, L.B., & Martin, B.W. (2011). Effect of school-based interventions on physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents: a review of reviews and systematic update. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 45(11), 923-930. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2011-090186.

Pardo, B.M., Bengoechea, E.G., Lanaspa, E.G., Bush, P.L., Casterad, J.Z., Clemente, J.A.J., & Gonzalez, L.G. (2013). Promising school-based strategies and intervention guidelines to increase physical activity of adolescents. Health Education Research, 29(3), 1-9. doi: 10.1093/her/cyt040

Models of School Health Eating Promotions and their Effectiveness

Today, interventions are being made to promote healthy eating in the society. However, much of the attention has been shifted to schools as they are seen as powerful tools in the society that can best implement healthy eating habits among school going children. The table below indicates the study design, location, measures and results school healthy eating interventions.

PART 2: Table 1: Study Design, Location, Measures and Result of School Healthy Eating Interventions

PART 3: The Approaches Used To Promote Healthy Eating and Their Effectiveness

Optimum nutrition is essential for the healthy growth and development of everybody in the society. Amongst children, optimum nutrition is essential for their overall growth and development. The adoption of healthy eating behaviors has been seen as a contributing factor that results in the achievement and maintenance of a healthy weight while providing protection against chronic diseases and premature mortality especially in school-going children (Hofman & Martinan, 2014). A child’s preference on food develops during childhood and if proper eating habits are not implemented early enough, such habits will become difficult to change once these children reach the adolescent stage. As we may be aware, unhealthy eating habits or patterns may result in obesity, hypertension, diabetes and osteoporosis amongst others (Hofman & Martinan, 2014). Models of School Health Eating Promotion and their Effectiveness Essay.

As such, it is important for schools to promote or establish healthy eating habits. Schools have been a popular setting for the implementation of health eating habits promotions since they offer continuous and intensive contact with children with the understanding that lifelong health and wellbeing begins with promoting healthy behaviors such as healthy eating early in life (Hofman & Martinan, 2014). To achieve such therefore, a number of approaches used to promote healthy eating must be adopted. Here we are going to identify some of the most common approaches used to promote healthy eating in addition to analyzing their effectiveness.

As we may know, healthy eating at school provides students with nutritional needs while ensuring that they perform better in their studies. Such cannot happen without the implementation of certain school-based interventions meant to achieve such. It has been argued that one of the biggest concerns today is childhood obesity. Today, approximately 17% of the youth between the ages of 6-17 are considered obese (Federal Interagency Forum on Child & Family Statistics, 2009). Such instances are bound to increase. However, schools can play a major role in reversing such trends by implementing education on nutrition. In fact, one of the best-known approaches that promote healthy eating in schools is implementing nutrition education in learning institutions (Federal Interagency Forum on Child & Family Statistics, 2009) Models of School Health Eating Promotion and their Effectiveness Essay.

Studies have shown that nutrition education in schools can lead to healthy eating among students as it may have a positive impact towards improving their dietary habits. In 2005 for instance, The Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture released a report providing clear evidence that well-designed nutrition education programs can lead to instances of healthy eating in schools. Because students spend a significant number of days in schools, such institutions are favorable grounds for teaching them about healthy eating. However, it has been argued that states are beginning to articulate student-learning benchmarks related to nutrition education and its effectiveness being realized as healthy eating patterns are being seen with majority of students in States such as Oregon prefer healthy foods such as vegetables as opposed to junk food (Centers for Diseases Control, 2010). Models of School Health Eating Promotion and their Effectiveness Essay.

Apart from the above, another best-known approach or model that proved effective in promoting effective eating patterns in schools is the creation of supportive environments that provides school-going children with the encouragement, skills and opportunities they require so as to adopt healthy eating patterns (Hofman & Martinan, 2014). Creating a healthy eating pattern in schools is however a responsibility that is shared by schools, communities and families. The administration of Rocky View Schools for instance has been in the lead through promoting and supporting healthy eating in schools by encouraging the staff to lead by example, holding school-wide challenges and sharing several success stories. However, majority of schools in many areas across the globe are lately focused towards the creation of policies that support healthy eating patterns. Such policies are meant to address issues such as access to healthy and safe foods in vending machines across schools, school stores and cafeterias, school events and meetings amongst others (Larsen et al, 2015).

Nevertheless, schools that have implemented meal and snack breaks for students have enabled them practice healthy eating patterns. In elementary grade students for instance, lunch periods put in place gives them enough time to eat and socialize. In addition, schools, which provide safe, clean and orderly eating areas, have seen improvements in the eating habits of their students (Larsen et al, 2015). In some schools, lunchtime is supervised while ensuring that students do not assume basic health and hygiene precautions such as washing their hands before and after the consumption of food. Models of School Health Eating Promotion and their Effectiveness Essay.

The adoption of nutrition-friendly school initiatives is another approach that has proved effective in promoting healthy eating habits amongst students. The provision of healthy food and beverage in schools has been seen as one of the best initiatives that help students meet their nutritional needs while giving them repeated opportunities to practice healthy eating patterns (Larsen et al, 2015). Majority of schools have gone ahead and implemented school meal programs that offer healthy food choices in addition to promoting and supporting safe food handling practices in form of educational materials on proper hand washing, food handling and presentations from health officers or community nutritionists who are knowledgeable in matters to do with healthy eating  (Naylor et al, 2006).

In line with the above initiatives, canteen vendors in schools have been advised to follow food service guidelines, which have proved effective in the promotion of healthy eating habits. For instance, majority of them are expected to follow certain food guidelines that aim to limit the amount of fat, salt and sugar content of the foods and drinks that they serve in schools (Campbell et al, 2016). Food vendors have been encouraged to serve whole-grains, vegetables and fruits in a healthy manner in form of well-balanced set meals. Such initiatives have been termed as being effective as school-going children who order such meals have a higher chance of receiving the right nutrients necessary for their growth (Cale & Harris, 2013). Models of School Health Eating Promotion and their Effectiveness Essay. In other words, such vendors should encourage food alternatives. In majority of schools though, such healthier alternatives have been promoted and as expected, they have proved to be successful. Majority of them discourage students on consuming fizzy drinks, crisps, sweets an chocolate. Instead, they encourage them to choose foods such as unsweetened juice, popcorn and fruits (Campbell et al, 2016).

The establishment of a School Health Team is another approach that has been effective in creating and forming healthy eating habits among students. These teams are responsible for leadership, management and overall coordination of the action plan set. In other words, these teams are responsible for overseeing that policy and programs put in place that aim at promoting and encouraging healthy eating habits are implemented at all times (Peralta et al, 2016). Such teams could include at least one parent, students, a local nurse, a food service provider, administrators and a local food nutritionist. More importantly, it has been argued that school nurses are important leaders and powerful advocates for children’s health and wellness in school (Peralta et al, 2016). For instance, in the event that a student has an asthma attack, gets in an accident on the playground or experiences a sugar spike, it’s the school nurse who will get the child back to class or to a doctor. Additionally, school nurses bring a public health point of view to the school and work with teachers and school leaders to make changes that affect all students’ health while promoting healthy eating habits through a number of health campaigns (Peralta et al, 2016). Models of School Health Eating Promotion and their Effectiveness Essay.

Another approach that has proved very effective in promoting healthy eating patterns in schools is planting of school vegetable gardens (Barbosa et al, 2015). The school garden initiative involves a series of activities that requires students to plant and maintain gardens. Such gardens will ensure that students enjoy fresh kale, potatoes, legumes and other vegetables grown in such fields. As we may be aware, fruits and vegetables are more nutritious and offer a couple of benefits to an individual as opposed to junk food. In many schools across the United States for instance, such vegetable gardens have been seen as being effective in forming healthy eating habits on students as they act as means of educating students on the benefits of fruits and vegetables as opposed to junk food, which is a common preference among many students (Cale & Harris, 2013). additionally, schools can make plans for field trips where students are taken for a visit farms in order to encourage them learn more on the benefits of eating vegetables and fruits hence forming healthy eating habits or patterns among students (Cale & Harris, 2013).

As indicated above, healthy eating among students cannot happen on its own. Teachers and parents have to be involved. Another approach or model that can encourage healthy eating habits is by schools holding a nutritional day for parents and including other activities for children. For instance, schools can plan for games and crafts for children that teach them on the benefits of making healthy food choices. Schools which have held informational seminars for parents on how food choices affect learning have realized success (Barbosa et al, 2015). At such events, healthy food alternatives are offered so as to encourage healthy eating habits especially in children. Children for instance love pizza but at such events, such children can be encouraged to eat pizza with vegetable toppings or whole-grains. By so doing, healthy eating patterns are formed and maintained up to adulthood (Barbosa et al, 2015). Models of School Health Eating Promotion and their Effectiveness Essay.

School feeding of children is one of the best ways or approaches of forming healthy eating patterns in students. Instead of letting students go for lunch at their respective homes, learning institutions can implement school feeding programs where students are fed with healthy food as opposed to junk food that they may get at food stores or at their homes (Larsen et al, 2015). Majority of learning institutions understand the importance of healthy diet to an individual’s well-being and by implementing such programs in schools, students will benefit as healthy food with nutritional value is availed to them. Moreover, recent released reports show that school feeding has played an important role in forming and encouraging healthy eating patterns among students as food offered in school will influence the choices they make on foods to eat once they graduate from elementary level (Dudley et al, 2015).

After school programs have also been seen as one of the approaches that can be used to put children on the path towards productive and healthy lives (Hinkle & Yoshida, 2014). These after school programs are uniquely positioned in order to play a role in the prevention of obesity by providing an environment where children are encouraged to eat healthy while participating in physical activities (Hinkle & Yoshida, 2014). After school programs not only presents an opportunity for children to excel academically but also provides for the inclusion of physical activities in the curriculum. In California for instance, afterschool programs have been termed as influential in playing a major role towards the prevention of obesity as such programs offer vital lessons in choosing the best foods to eat and some of the best physical activities to engage in (Hinkle & Yoshida, 2014). According to Hinkle and Yoshida (2014), physical activity is integral to any healthy eating program and therefore, it should be promoted and encouraged.

One of the most notable approaches to encouraging healthy eating in schools is by teaching the students on the food pyramid. The food pyramid is an educational tool used nationally or internationally for purposes of communicating the healthy eating message. In schools though, the food pyramid has been used as a tool of communicating to the students on the importance of eating healthy (Tarone, 2000). The food pyramid is divided into five shelves with each shelve representing a different food group. On the top shelf, we have foods that should be used in very small amounts. They include foods like chocolate, crisps, fizzy drinks and biscuits amongst others. These are foods high in sugar and fat. The second shelf consists of foods such as meat products that should be served once. The third shelf, just like the second one consists of high protein foods such as milk products that should also be served once. Next are fruits and vegetables which should be served on regular basis. Lastly, we have the final shelf made of foods like pasta, bread potatoes amongst others that should also be served regularly. Commendably, majority of schools across the state have adopted this approach which has proved to be a success as it has influenced the eating habits of majority of school going children (Tarone, 2000) Models of School Health Eating Promotion and their Effectiveness Essay.

Apart from all the above approaches discussed, there are other minor but equally important approaches or models that schools have adopted for purposes of promoting healthy eating patterns among students. For instance, majority of schools have encouraged parents to become involved in supporting healthy food choices in school by attending meetings meant to create such policies. In addition, schools are lately incorporating the discussion on food into other subjects such as geography, English and Geography amongst other lessons. Closely related with this, majority of schools and other learning institutions are lately embracing the idea of having a healthy week with a focus on healthy eating and drinking habits (Pardo et al, 2015). Such themes have been made very important with majority of them included in school calendars urging everybody from the staff to parents and children to attend in order to learn the basics of healthy eating. Such programs and initiatives have not been in vain. It has helped majority of students to form healthy eating habits in schools and in their homes also (Pardo et al, 2015).

School Health eating promotions campaigns have been effective in a number of ways. Evidence gathered from different sources indicates that efforts to promote healthy eating patterns have been successful. For instance, a review by Francis et al (2010) concluded that such educational campaigns have led to reduction of specific unhealthy foods among students. In addition, salt and sugar intake among students is no longer a major problem as such campaigns have raised awareness among students on the dangers of too much salt. Models of School Health Eating Promotion and their Effectiveness Essay.

As of today, it is a common practice seeing students consuming more vegetables and fruits as opposed to junk food. Student behaviors have been modified through such campaigns to promote healthy eating (Carter et al., 2011). In fact, campaigns meant to boost vegetable consumption among students have been a success across schools. In addition, a survey conducted across schools indicated that students diet consist of better nutritional needs required in their diets. Commendably, actions taken by schools to foster healthy eating are changing students’ behavior on how they choose what to eat to the extent of forming such habits as they grow into adulthood (Carter et al., 2011).

Conclusion

In brief, healthy eating is one of the latest phenomena that everybody in the society should embrace. Healthy eating has a higher chance of prolonging life while avoiding common diseases and health problems. In schools, healthy eating leads to successful learning and successful learning supports health. As we can see, education and health are inseparable. The necessary stakeholders in the education sector should therefore encourage and support initiatives that lead to the formation of healthy eating habits among students. Schools should be encouraged to offer such guidelines in a wider scale as they form close associations with students for most of the time. A healthy diet leads to a healthy individual and a healthy learning process free of interruptions. Children are one of the most important natural resources that we can have. They must be at the very heart of progress and development. Their well-being will determine the future of cities, nations and villages in years to come. For that reason, the society should work towards reducing some of the gravest threats to young children’s health by offering them a healthy diet and encouraging them to eat healthy while they are still young. Models of School Health Eating Promotion and their Effectiveness Essay.

References

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