Nutrition Education & Promotion

For Everyone

At a glance

  • Schools can help ensure that students receive consistent messages about healthy food and nutrition throughout the school day.
  • Nutrition education in school can give children the information they need to choose healthy foods and beverages.
  • Most U.S. students receive less than the required nutrition education needed to change behaviors.
Students tasting raw vegetables with hummus in a school cafeteria.

Overview

Nutrition education in schools

  • U.S. students receive less than 8 hours of required nutrition education each school year. That's far below the 40–50 hours that are needed to change behavior. In 2024, a little over half of secondary schools taught all nutrition education topics in a required class. This is a slight increase from 2022.
  • Nutrition education and activities in school can give children the information they need to choose healthy foods and beverages.
  • Schools can:
    • Offer more hours of nutrition education instruction.
    • Engage teachers and parents in nutrition education.

What are the benefits of nutrition education?

  • Students can learn that diet plays an important role in preventing chronic diseases and supporting good health.
  • Research shows that nutrition education can teach students to see how a healthy diet affects emotional well-being. In turn, emotions can influence eating habits.

Ways to help students with nutrition education

  • Nutrition education can be added throughout the school day, and in various school locations. Yet schools can be flexible in using strategies that work, given the school's daily schedule and resources.
  • Opportunities include:
    • Nutrition education in the classroom
    • Farm-to-school programs
    • School gardens
    • Cafeteria programs

Resource

Read more here: Opportunities for Nutrition Education in US Schools

Food & Beverage Marketing

  • Marketing for foods and beverages can be seen in schools on posters, the fronts of vending machines, textbook covers, and scoreboards.
  • Local school wellness policies are required to address food and beverage marketing. For instance, policies can promote only foods and beverages that meet the Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards.
  • Schools can help students make healthy choices by promoting healthy foods and beverages. Some low-cost ideas include:
    • Remove marketing that is not in line with Smart Snacks in Schools standards.
    • Take suggestions from students and families for nutritious meals and snacks.
    • Do taste tests of new menu items and ask for students' feedback.
    • Place nutritious items in easily accessible areas (examples: front of the school meal line or near the cash register).
    • Create attractive displays for fruits and vegetables.
    • Have lower prices for nutritious foods and beverages and higher prices for less nutritious foods and beverages.
    • Have signs or verbal prompts to encourage students to try healthy foods.

Resources

Nutrition Education

Food and Beverage Marketing

Farm to School

Print
Content Source
Division of Adolescent and School Health; National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)
About This Page
Published: November 19, 2024
Updated: July 22, 2024

This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.

Reviewed: July 22, 2024

The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.

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