ERIC Number: EJ1305604
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1029-5968
EISSN: N/A
Possible Effects of a Free School Meal on School Environment: The School Meal Intervention in Norway
Illøkken, Kristine E.; Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Johannessen, Berit; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård
Journal of the International Society for Teacher Education, v25 n1 p8-20 2021
Evidence suggests that a free school meal can improve children and adolescent diet, social environment, concentration, and school performance. This study aimed to investigate possible effects of a free, healthy school meal among students that usually eat packed meals on behavioral issues, inactiveness, self-efficacy, school enjoyment and classroom environment. A school meal according to the dietary guidelines was served to students in the intervention group (n=55) for one year. A control group consumed packed meals as usual (n=109). Students (10-12 years) responded to a questionnaire at baseline and after one year. We used linear regression analyses and did not find significant effects of a free school meal on behavioral issues (B= 0.01, p 0.86), inactiveness (B= -0.05, p 0.51), self - efficacy (B= -0.04, p 0.52), school enjoyment (B= 0.11, p 0.19) or classroom environment (B= -0.07, p 0.26). Methodological limitations might explain our lack of findings.
Descriptors: Lunch Programs, Program Effectiveness, Nutrition, Dietetics, Intervention, Classroom Environment, Public Schools, Elementary School Students, Preadolescents, Grade 6, Student Attitudes, Student Behavior, Self Efficacy, Socioeconomic Status, Gender Differences, Foreign Countries
International Society for Teacher Education. Danish School of Education, Aarhus University, Niels Juelsgade 84, 8210 Aarhus N. Denmark; e-mail: isftecontact@gmail.com; Web site: http://isfte.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 6; Intermediate Grades; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Norway
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A