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Children’s Participation in Free School Meals: A Qualitative Study among Pupils, Parents, and Teachers. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14061282. [PMID: 35334940 PMCID: PMC8949967 DOI: 10.3390/nu14061282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
School meals can have a key function in promoting children’s health. However, simply providing a free school meal is not a guarantee that pupils will eat the food. The purpose of this study was to explore factors influencing pupils’ participation in free school meal schemes in Oslo. The study has a qualitative research design, inspired by grounded theory. Data were collected through interviews with pupils, teachers, and parents, and participant observations in two schools participating in a pilot project funded by Oslo Municipality. Line-by-line coding, memo writing, and a constant comparative technique were used to analyze the data. One primary school and one lower-secondary school in different districts in Oslo that were implementing two different free school meal models took part in the study. In total, 39 pupils (5th–10th grade), 15 parents, and 12 school employees were included. Four main factors related to pupils’ participation in free school meals emerged from the analysis: the popularity of the food served, the attraction to the nearby shopping center, social aspects, and predictability. To promote pupils’ participation in free school meal schemes, schools need to solve the challenges of balancing between healthy food and popular but often unhealthy food. To implement school meals further, children and parents’ involvement, regularity of the meals provision, a good flow of information, and the creation of a friendly eating environment are recommended.
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2
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Westling M, Wennström S, Öström Å. Public meals as a platform for culinary action? Tweens' and teens’ acceptance of a new plant-based food. Int J Gastron Food Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgfs.2022.100485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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3
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The role of peers, siblings and social media for children’s healthy eating socialization: a mixed methods study. Food Qual Prefer 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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4
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Azizan NA, Papadaki A, Su TT, Jalaludin MY, Mohammadi S, Dahlui M, Nahar Azmi Mohamed M, Majid HA. Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing Healthy School Canteen Intervention among Malaysian Adolescents: A Qualitative Study. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13093078. [PMID: 34578955 PMCID: PMC8471853 DOI: 10.3390/nu13093078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated implementing a school-based intervention to promote healthier dietary habits in the school environment among Malaysian adolescents using qualitative methods. This qualitative study was conducted in four secondary schools in Perak and Selangor (two urban and two rural schools) that received the intervention (either training or training and food subsidy). A total of eight focus groups (68 students aged 15 years old) and 16 in-depth interviews were conducted with canteen operators, school convenience shop operators, school teachers and school principals in each school. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data to identify suitable themes. We found several initiatives and changes by the schools’ stakeholders to change to a healthy school canteen programme. The stakeholders also noticed the students’ food preferences that influence healthy food intake in canteens and convenience shops. The food vendors and school administrators also found that subsidising healthy meals might encourage healthy eating. Among barriers to implementing healthy school initiatives were the student’s perception of healthy food and their eating habits, which also affect the food vendors’ profit if they want to implement a healthy canteen. The school-based intervention has the potential to promotes healthier eating among school adolescents. Continuous training and monitoring of canteen operators and convenience shops are needed, including building partnerships and educating the students on healthy eating to cultivate healthy eating habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurul Ain Azizan
- Center of Population Health (CePH), Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (N.A.A.); (T.T.S.); (S.M.); (M.D.)
- Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam 13200, Malaysia
| | - Angeliki Papadaki
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TZ, UK;
| | - Tin Tin Su
- Center of Population Health (CePH), Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (N.A.A.); (T.T.S.); (S.M.); (M.D.)
- South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Yazid Jalaludin
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
| | - Shooka Mohammadi
- Center of Population Health (CePH), Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (N.A.A.); (T.T.S.); (S.M.); (M.D.)
| | - Maznah Dahlui
- Center of Population Health (CePH), Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (N.A.A.); (T.T.S.); (S.M.); (M.D.)
| | - Mohd Nahar Azmi Mohamed
- Department of Sports Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
| | - Hazreen Abdul Majid
- Center of Population Health (CePH), Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (N.A.A.); (T.T.S.); (S.M.); (M.D.)
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
- Correspondence:
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Illøkken KE, Johannessen B, Barker ME, Hardy-Johnson P, Øverby NC, Vik FN. Free school meals as an opportunity to target social equality, healthy eating, and school functioning: experiences from students and teachers in Norway. Food Nutr Res 2021; 65:7702. [PMID: 34349612 PMCID: PMC8287658 DOI: 10.29219/fnr.v65.7702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There are no national arrangements for free school meals provision in Norway despite this being an important opportunity to improve children’s and adolescents’ nutritional status and ultimately their physical and cognitive development. During a one academic year (2014–2015), a group of Norwegian sixth graders were served a free healthy school meal in a project called ‘The School Meal Project’. Objective To explore students’ and teachers’ experiences of receiving free school meals after the free school meal in 2015 and 5 years later. Design In-depth, semi-structured interviews with separate groups in 2015 and in 2020 were conducted face to face or via telephone or digital platforms. The findings are based on 13 students (aged 12–16) and 5 teacher interviews. Findings Thematic analysis identified four main themes that describe the perceived benefits of receiving free school meals: 1) the meal as a social event where students made new friends and learned new skills; 2) as an aid to forming healthy eating habits; and as an opportunity to 3) improve school functioning and 4) increase social equality among students. Discussion Our analysis suggests that the free school meal may influence healthy behaviors not only at the individual level but also at the social-, physical-, and macro-levels. Methodological limitations, including self-selection bias, should be considered when interpreting our findings. Conclusion This study provides unique insights into the social benefits for students of receiving free school meals. Our findings illustrate the potential of free school meals: eating healthy foods, sharing a meal together, and interaction between students and teachers at mealtime, to promote health, learning, and equality. In order to maximize these benefits through national implementation of free school meals, more understanding is needed of possible facilitators and barriers related to the provision and uptake of free school meals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine E Illøkken
- Department of Nutrition and Public Health, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Berit Johannessen
- Department of Health and Nursing Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Mary E Barker
- Department of Nutrition and Public Health, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway.,Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Southampton Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Polly Hardy-Johnson
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Nina Cecilie Øverby
- Department of Nutrition and Public Health, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Frøydis Nordgård Vik
- Department of Nutrition and Public Health, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
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Ziegler AM, Kasprzak CM, Mansouri TH, Gregory AM, Barich RA, Hatzinger LA, Leone LA, Temple JL. An Ecological Perspective of Food Choice and Eating Autonomy Among Adolescents. Front Psychol 2021; 12:654139. [PMID: 33967917 PMCID: PMC8097152 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.654139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adolescence is an important developmental period marked by a transition from primarily parental-controlled eating to self-directed and peer-influenced eating. During this period, adolescents gain autonomy over their individual food choices and eating behavior in general. While parent-feeding practices have been shown to influence eating behaviors in children, little is known about how these relationships track across adolescent development as autonomy expands. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify factors that impact food decisions and eating autonomy among adolescents. Using the food choice process model as a guide, four focus groups were conducted with 34 adolescents. Focus group discussion was semi-structured, asking teens about influences on their food choices across different food environments, their involvement with food purchasing and preparation, and perceived control over food their choices. Focus group transcripts were analyzed using deductive and inductive code creation and thematic analysis. This study found six leading influences on adolescents' food choices and identified additional factors with prominence within specific environmental contexts. This study distinguished a broader spectrum of factors influencing adolescent food choice that extend beyond “convenience” and “taste” which have previously been identified as significant contributors. The degree of control that teens reported differed by eating location, occasion, and social context. Finally, adolescents demonstrated various levels of engagement in behaviors related to their eating autonomy. Identifying the emergent themes related to adolescent autonomy was the first step toward the goal of developing a scale to evaluate adolescent eating autonomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Ziegler
- Nutrition and Health Research Lab, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Christina M Kasprzak
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Community Health Interventions Lab, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Tegan H Mansouri
- Nutrition and Health Research Lab, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Arturo M Gregory
- Nutrition and Health Research Lab, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Rachel A Barich
- Nutrition and Health Research Lab, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Lori A Hatzinger
- Nutrition and Health Research Lab, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Lucia A Leone
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Community Health Interventions Lab, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Jennifer L Temple
- Nutrition and Health Research Lab, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
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Hansen MW, Hansen SR, Dal JK, Kristensen NH. Taste, education, and commensality in Copenhagen food schools. FOOD AND FOODWAYS 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/07409710.2020.1783817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mette Weinreich Hansen
- Department of Food and Resource Economics, Section for Consumption, Bioethics and Governance, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Johan Kristensen Dal
- Copenhagen Hospitality College, Copenhagen School of Restaurant and Culinary Arts, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Waddingham S, Shaw K, Van Dam P, Bettiol S. What motivates their food choice? Children are key informants. Appetite 2018; 120:514-522. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2017.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Rosander U, Rumpunen K, Olsson V, Åström M, Rosander P, Wendin K. Methodological considerations in a pilot study on the effects of a berry enriched smoothie on children's performance in school. Food Nutr Res 2017; 61:1409063. [PMID: 29230155 PMCID: PMC5717712 DOI: 10.1080/16546628.2017.1409063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Berries contain bioactive compounds that may affect children’s cognitive function positively, while hunger and thirst during lessons before lunch affect academic performance negatively. This pilot study addresses methodological challenges in studying if a berry smoothie, offered to schoolchildren as a mid-morning beverage, affects academic performance. The objective was to investigate if a cross-over design can be used to study these effects in a school setting. Therefore, in order to investigate assay sensitivity, 236 Swedish children aged 10–12 years were administered either a berry smoothie (active) or a fruit-based control beverage after their mid-morning break. Both beverages provided 5% of child daily energy intake. In total, 91% of participants completed the study. Academic performance was assessed using the d2 test of attention. Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test in StatXact v 10.3. The results showed that the children consumed less of the active berry smoothie than the control (154 g vs. 246 g). Both beverages increased attention span and concentration significantly (p = 0.000). However, as there was no significant difference (p = 0.938) in the magnitude of this effect between the active and control beverages, the assay sensitivity of the study design was not proven. The effect of the beverages on academic performance was attributed the supplementation of water and energy. Despite careful design, the active smoothie was less accepted than the control. This could be explained by un-familiar sensory characteristics and peer influence, stressing the importance of sensory similarity and challenges to perform a study in school settings. The employed cross-over design did not reveal any effects of bioactive compound consumption on academic performance. In future studies, the experimental set up should be modified or replaced by e.g. the parallel study design, in order to provide conclusive results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulla Rosander
- School of Education and Environment, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden
| | - Kimmo Rumpunen
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Balsgård, Sweden
| | - Viktoria Olsson
- School of Education and Environment, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden
| | - Mikael Åström
- Department of biostatistics, StatCons, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Pia Rosander
- School of Education and Environment, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden
| | - Karin Wendin
- School of Education and Environment, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden.,Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Assessing parents’ receptiveness to a vegetable-focussed in-school nutrition intervention. Appetite 2017; 117:359-364. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2017.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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DeCosta P, Møller P, Frøst MB, Olsen A. Changing children's eating behaviour - A review of experimental research. Appetite 2017; 113:327-357. [PMID: 28286164 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2017.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Revised: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The interest in children's eating behaviours and how to change them has been growing in recent years. This review examines the following questions: What strategies have been used to change children's eating behaviours? Have their effects been experimentally demonstrated? And, are the effects transient or enduring? Medline and Cab abstract (Ovid) and Web of Science (Thomson Reuters) were used to identify the experimental studies. A total of 120 experimental studies were identified and they are presented grouped within these 11 topics; parental control, reward, social facilitation, cooking programs, school gardens, sensory education, availability and accessibility, choice architecture and nudging, branding and food packaging, preparation and serving style, and offering a choice. In conclusion, controlling strategies for changing children's eating behaviour in a positive direction appear to be counterproductive. Hands-on approaches such as gardening and cooking programs may encourage greater vegetable consumption and may have a larger effect compared to nutrition education. Providing children with free, accessible fruits and vegetables have been experimentally shown to positively affect long-term eating behaviour. The authors recommend future research to examine how taste and palatability can positively affect children's attitudes and eating behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia DeCosta
- Food Design and Consumer Behaviour, Department of Food Science (FOOD), University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 26, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Per Møller
- Food Design and Consumer Behaviour, Department of Food Science (FOOD), University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 26, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Michael Bom Frøst
- Nordic Food Lab, Food Design and Consumer Behaviour, Department of Food Science (FOOD), University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 26, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Annemarie Olsen
- Food Design and Consumer Behaviour, Department of Food Science (FOOD), University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 26, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
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