A recent study led by researchers from the Tisch Food Center shows that with professional development, teachers can play a vital role in helping students eat healthy school meals. School lunch can be a nutritious meal for kids, but many children from low-income backgrounds who experience food insecurity do not take advantage of it. That's where teachers can help! While traditionally uninvolved in the lunch period, teachers can play a vital role in encouraging students to consume school lunches.

The study involved 10 kindergarten through twelfth-grade teachers who participated in two data collection workshops and six follow-up interviews. The educators shared their insights on what resources they need to encourage students to take and eat school lunch. Many teachers may have unfavorable memories of the food service program before the adoption of more rigorous food standards after the adoption of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, yet have spent little time in today’s lunchroom.  Yet, the study found that teachers believe school meals are essential for students’ focus and behavior in the classroom. However, they need more support and resources to encourage their students to take and eat school lunches.

The study identified three themes that when addressed can empower educators to encourage students to eat school meals: knowledge on understanding the improvements in food quality over the years, garnering school community support, and accessing professional development. Specifically, many educators are unaware of the much more stringent dietary standards that school meals now follow, and that they are among the healthiest meals that many Americans eat. They also may need support in understanding how to get school community support, from parents, their administration and others to encourage students to try healthier meal choices. Finally, teachers need professional development in food and nutrition education to make it easy for them to be supportive in their classrooms. 

Combined, these efforts can increase teacher motivation to advocate for better food quality and engage the school community for support. With greater educator encouragement of students to consider healthy school meals, we can lay the groundwork for future healthier generations. Click here for a link to the study.