A Statewide Nutrient Analysis of Children's Diets.

A statewide assessment of the nutrition education and training needs of children, teachers, and food service personnel ih Hawaiian schools was conducted through surveys of administrators,, teachers, food service managers, school nurses, students, parents, community agencies, an evaluation of classroom materials, a literature search,land a 24-hour student diet recall. The literature 'search and data collection revealed several nutrition-related health and dietary problems of children in Hawaii. Nutrition education was foupd to be lacking especially at the senior high school level, the grade level at which students also had the poorest diets. Parents . felt that' nutrition education was important in both the home and school, although some indicated they did not always set a good example for their children. Preschool and lower elementary teachers weke more involved in nutrition education than were other teachers; however, many did not take nutrition-related coursework,as part of their training. Teachees at all levels generally felt that students were interested in nutrition, parents were not resistant, and cost was not a limiting factor in conducting nutrition education. ,Administrators teachers, and food service managers agreed that `,coordination of classroom nutrition activities with the food service program is needed but rarely carried'out. It is recOmmended that training for teachers must provide not only nutritibn information but also teaching strategies and support services for improving students' eating habits. It is also recommended that food managers receive training in managerial skills and that training in nutrition should . be provided for school nurses and health aides. (JD) MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. , *Adnlihistrator Attitudes; Curriculum Development; Eat,Pn Habits; Elementary Secondary Education; *Food Service; Health* Education; Knowledge Level; Needs Assessment; Nutrition; *Nutrition Instruction; *Parent Attitudes; Physical Health; School Community Relationship; *Student Attitudes; *Teacher Attitudes; Teacher Education. *Hawaii *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplieeby EDRS are the best that can be made 1 * from the original document. ***********************************************************************