Transcript of The Importance of Teaching Nutrition in School Marcia Durish University of Michigan-Flint EDR 344.
Slide 1
The Importance of Teaching Nutrition in School Marcia Durish
University of Michigan-Flint EDR 344
Slide 2
The Importance of Teaching Nutrition in School It is no more
necessary that a man should remember the different dinners and
suppers which have made him healthy, than the different books which
have made him wise. Let us see the results of good food in a strong
body, and the results of great reading in a full and powerful mind.
-Sydney Smith (Reid, 1884)
Slide 3
Reasons for Teaching Nutrition in School The eating habits of
adults can be traced back to childhood diets Obesity is a crisis in
our nation with childhood obesity considered an epidemic Childhood
obesity is a severe health concern for numerous Americans Obese
children are more likely to have risk factors associated with
cardiovascular disease High blood pressure High cholesterol Type 2
diabetes Certain types of cancers Orthopedic Problems Obese and
overweight children can also have problems with: Depression Anxiety
Sleep Apnea Psychosocial Dysfunction which can all contribute to
increase school absenteeism
Slide 4
Why Should Educators Bother with Nutritional Education Children
with no opportunity to learn good nutritional habits are unable to
incorporate proper nutrition into their daily diet routine Without
formal instruction on appropriate nutritional choices, children do
not understand the importance of a healthy, well- balanced,
nutritional diet on their over all well-being Children need an
atmosphere that motivates them positively into making healthy food
choices Children also must be guided candidly on proper nutrition
so that they can make necessary changes to their diet when needed.
At the very least, a child should be well-equipped with the tools
for making good nutritional choices Schools have a distinctive
position in potentially helping children alleviate the problem of
being obese or overweight by teaching proper nutrition at a young
age
Slide 5
More than 30% of children ages 2-19 in the United States are
overweight or obese In the past three decades, the rate of
overweight or obese children has doubled among U.S. preschool and
adolescent children and tripled among 6 to 11 year olds Despite
socioeconomic status or race, overweight children are more prone to
become overweight adults
Slide 6
Schools role in the well-being of children: An emphasis on
nutrition education in core-curriculum should take high priority in
the 21 st century amidst the current epidemic of overweight and
obese children in the United States of America Research shows that
most children could make improvements in their daily diet paying
special attention to minorities and low- income students School
curriculum should incorporate proper nutrition at a young age to
ensure a lifetime of first-rate eating habits School districts need
to teach children to select well-balanced, nutritious foods as well
as incorporate and encourage physical activity which would support
positive self image Teachers have the opportunity to institute good
nutrition habits while teaching customary core-curriculum Positive
nutritional contributions to a childs wellbeing will last a
lifetime if promoted at a young age in the school setting The
research and findings confirm that schools do have a distinctive
position in teaching nutrition education
Slide 7
Why Should Schools Get Involved Schools are the core of the
community Schools have a unique opportunity to lead the fight on
obesity Obesity rates threatens to widen the achievement gap
Schools can reach out to a large number of children and families
Schools already influence childrens eating patterns by providing
one or more meals Physical education opportunities provided at
school influence childrens patterns of physical activity School
Personnel can deliver programs designed to improve childrens
health-related knowledge and behaviors What teachers say and do and
the behaviors they model in the classroom can have a lasting impact
on students health attitudes and behaviors
Slide 8
Slide 9
Michigans PE-Nut Project (Physical Education and Nutrition
Education Working Together) Federally Funded by the USDAs
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program -through an
award from the Michigan Nutrition Network to the Michigan Fitness
Foundation Programs Motto: Health students are better learners!
Taking place in 52 low income schools within Michigan Genesee
County has the highest number of schools being serviced at 27
schools -72% of school districts in Genesee County have 50% or more
of their children qualify for free or reduced lunches
Slide 10
PE-Nut Programs Obligations Every PE-Nut Educator has a degree
in nutrition or health Nutrition Educators provide 30 lessons (3-5
lessons) in up to 10 classrooms per building Teaches children how
and why to make healthy choices Children are given an engaging
nutrition lesson, an opportunity to try healthy snacks, and to be
physically active
Slide 11
Physical Educations Role Teach and provide children with
healthy activities that can be enjoyed in as well outside of class
This is where some nutritional education could be taught Should be
educating students in regard the importance of stay active as
adults The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends:
that elementary children get 150 minutes of physical education each
week Continuing on after elementary, children should receive 225
minutes of physical education each week
Slide 12
Michigans Physical Education Michigan mandates that elementary,
middle/junior high and high schools provide their students with
physical education However does not specify certain grade levels or
minutes per week of Physical Education Michigan does not require
daily recess in elementary schools MI High School Graduation
Requirements: entails students to earn 1.0 credit in Health and
P.E. It is recommended that the credit be split
Slide 13
Fun Things to Do!
Slide 14
Slide 15
References: Cotugna, N., & Vickery, C. (2007). Educating
early childhood teachers about nutrition: A collaborative venture.
Childhood Education, 83(4), 194- 198. Division of Nutrition,
Physical Activity and Obesity. (2009) National Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/lowincome.html.www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/lowincome.html
Gibson, F. (2007). Nutrition education and the elementary classroom
teacher. Retrieved from ProQuest Digital Dissertations. (3255663).
Murnan, J., Price, J., Telljohann, S., Dake, J., & Boardley, D.
(2006) Parents perceptions of curricular issues affecting childrens
weight in elementary schools. The Journal of School Health, 76,
502-511. National Association for Sport and Physical Education.
& The American Heart Association, (2010). Michigan state
profile on physical education. Retrieved from
http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/publications/upload/Michigan-
profile.pdf
http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/publications/upload/Michigan- Reid, S.
(1884) A Sketch of the Life and Times of the Reverend Sydney Smith.
London, England: Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington.
Satcher, D. (2009/2010). Taking charge of poor nutrition and
physical inactivity are threatening our students futures. Will
schools meet the challenge?. Educational Leadership, 67(4), 38-43.
Winter, S. (2009). Childhood obesity in the testing era: What
teachers and schools can do!. Childhood Education, 85(5),
283-288.