Teaching Kids What to Eat Where They Eat: The Nutrition Education in Foodservice Toolkit
This article includes an assessment of the potential and challenges of the elementary school cafeteria as a setting and resource for nutrition education, with evaluation of the development and implementation of a toolkit for nutrition education by elementary food services staff.
The goal of the project was to take advantage of the potential of school food service settings to positively influence children's eating — both at school and at home. The toolkit was designed and pilot-tested for use in elementary schools, particularly those serving low-income populations.
This Journal of Extension article introduces UC Extension efforts to better understand the role of the cafeteria in providing nutrition education alongside meal and snack offerings. Its unique offering is the methods for their toolkit development and its participatory evaluation.
