Sugary & High Fat Foods in the Classroom
Teachers' Classroom Food Beliefs & Practices
Most US teachers believe schools should promote healthy eating, however:
- Teachers' classroom food practices do not always reflect this idea
- Across all grade levels, US teachers allow children to bring in foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt
- At times, teachers may encourage children to consume unhealthy foods in the classroom
- Teachers often offer, or have parents provide, less healthy foods to children during celebrations and classroom events
Foods Permitted in the Classroom
Foods high in fat, sugar, and/or salt often allowed in the classroom include:
- Chips & cheese puff snacks
- Gummies
- Sugary cereal
- Pudding
- Cookies & brownies
- Packaged snack treats
Negative Effects of Permitting Unhealthy Foods in the Classroom
Offering students foods with low nutritional value during celebrations and events can:
- Contradict nutrition education concepts taught in the classroom
- Cause children to associate unhealthy foods with positive emotions
- Increase children's preferences for less healthy foods
- Reinforce unhealthy eating behaviors which contribute to long term adverse health outcomes
Establishing Classroom Food Policies
You can reduce the amount of unhealthy foods in your class by establishing food & nutrition policies
Discuss nutritional concerns with your director:
- Make a list of foods you prefer students not to eat in your class based on nutrient profile (high in sodium/sugar/fat)
- Suggest making classroom food policies to prohibit certain food items in the class
- If possible, suggest enacting school-wide nutrition policies that way all classrooms are following the same rules
- Have your director formally put the policies in writing and request that the parents be notified
- Tip: Enacting new policies may be best received at the beginning of a school year - parents may be reluctant to accepting changes during the middle of a school year.
Scenarios: Unhealthy Food in the Classroom
What would you choose?
Drag the answer you think fits best into the blank area