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Promoting food literacy in primary school classrooms through the HealthLit4Kids Program in Australia
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 15:03 authored by Rebecca KellyRebecca Kelly, Peralta, L, Rose NashRose NashFood literacy (FL) refers to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours associated with healthy eating. Schools are recognised as an important setting for FL promotion during childhood. HealthLit4Kids is an Australian primary school intervention that engages students, families, and educators to promote health literacy. This study aimed to assess the promotion of FL, a subtype of health literacy, in primary school classrooms across five schools. Teachers planned and implemented classroom activities over a 12-month period. Researchers examined lesson plans created by teachers and 'artefacts' (e.g. drawings, models) created by students during activities. Most classroom activities considered the nutritional knowledge and interpersonal communication skills associated with healthy eating, whereas fewer activities addressed students' ability to critically analyse and apply information relating to food. The FL themes considered most frequently in classroom activities were 'food and health choices', 'knowledge', and 'skills and behaviour'. Whereas the FL themes considered less frequently were 'food systems', 'emotion', and 'culture'. The delivery of classroom activities was supported by the integration of other curriculum areas (e.g. The Arts and English). Future studies are required to understand how school-based interventions can promote the areas of FL that were less frequently addressed in this intervention in the classroom and beyond.
Funding
Tasmanian Community Fund
History
Publication title
Health Promotion InternationalVolume
37Issue
6Pagination
1-10ISSN
1460-2245Department/School
Tasmanian School of MedicinePublisher
Oxford University PressPlace of publication
United KingdomRights statement
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press.Repository Status
- Restricted