The effect of sustainable food literacy education on primary school nutrition attitudes and behaviours

Abstract

Permanent habits are acquired during childhood. Nutritional behaviors acquired during this period persist throughout life. Nutrition education in schools can raise awareness about adequate and balanced nutrition and sustainable food sources that preserve the environment. Two primary schools with similar socioeconomic status in Istanbul were selected for the study. One received a 10-week sustainable nutrition education that included education on comprehensive nutrition; the other while the received no intervention (the control group). Evaluations before and after the intervention revealed the changes in the nutritional knowledge of the students. The overall effectiveness of the nutrition education was assessed after the intervention.158 students participated to the study. A significant difference occurred before and after the intervention in the nutritional behaviors and attitudes of the students (p<0.05). The mean Nutrition Behavior and Nutrition Attitude Scale scores of the students in the intervention group were higher after the intervention than they were before. There was no significant difference in the pretest and posttest scale scores of the control group. Nutrition education can help children make nutritional choices that support lifelong healthy habits and contribute to reduction in future government health expenditures.