Administrators' views on school-based nutrition education

To determine administrators' views on nutrition education in elementary schools, a questionnaire was mailed to a 39% random sample (426) of superintendents and a 10% random sample (395) of elementary school principals in New York State and northern New Jersey. The questionnaire asked these administrators what they thought about foods and nutrition teaching, how they viewed the teaching that occurs in their schools, and how they have supported that teaching. Overall, 76% of these administrators returned completed questionnaires. Nearly all administrators said that elementary schools should have a role in teaching foods and nutrition to children. Sixty-one percent reported that in their school district there was a policy of teaching it. Teachers, administrators, and school nurses were most influential in determining whether nutrition education was taught and how it was taught. Three-fourths of the administrators expressed an openness to programs developed by specialists outside of their schools. Three-fourths also reported that their teachers wanted to learn more about foods and nutrition teaching, and that most preferred inservice or workshops as a means to do that. Administrators were most active regarding foods and nutrition teaching in discussing materials with teachers or nurses, observing the teaching of it, and in eating with students in school cafeterias.