Elementary School Teachers' Perceptions of Classroom Nutrition Education and Cafeteria Food

Objectives 1. Determine an age where obesity prevention/ intervention efforts should start.2. Determine what nutrition initiatives are in place at Fort Riley and identify opportunities for improvement.3. Conduct a survey on nutrition education and school cafeteria behaviors.4. Make recommendations for interventions based on survey results. Present courses of action to hospital and health services commanders.  Focus on elementary school interventions for proper nutrition and obesity prevention. Other courses of action will be pursued as phases of a comprehensive nutrition promotion initiative. "efforts to prevent overweight, including encouragement of physical activity and improved diets, should begin in early childhood" (Ogden et al., 1997) .Pre-kindergarten and elementary age children were the focus for this project. Eating in child development centers (CDC) compared to elementary schools was different. CDC children ate all food on their plates (eg: fruits, vegetables, and whole grain breads) vs. elementary school children who wasted approximately 60% or food. 5-year olds in elementary school settings did not consume the same amount of nutrients even though both menus were based on the same criteria.