Teachers’ Resources to Support School Lunch: Professional Development Is Warranted

• DOI: 10.3390/nu14214596
• Publication Date: 2022-11-02T07:36:44Z
• Authors: Deborah A. Olarte; Pamela A. Koch; Randi L. Wolf; Isobel R. Contento
• Keywords: Faculty Development

In the United States, many children who come from low-income backgrounds and experience food insecurity do not take eat school lunch, despite it being a nutritious meal. Teachers could play role in encouraging students' consumption of lunch; however, teachers America are traditionally uninvolved lunch period. The purpose this research was to understand resources kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) need encourage students lunch. Two data collection workshops semi-structured follow-up interviews were conducted with K-12 teachers. recorded, transcribed, analyzed for salient themes. Ten participated six interviews. general, believe meals essential focus behavior classroom. However, support resources. From interviews, three themes emerged: (1) improvements quality; (2) community support; (3) professional development. suggests development is greatest resource need, as can enhance teachers' motivation advocate better quality engage support. Greater teacher involvement lay groundwork future healthier generations.