This study qualitatively explored how students, parents and school staff perceived the role that the school food environment played in student eating behaviour, how the Food and Nutrition Policy for Nova Scotia Public Schools impacted the food environment. This study looked at one public elementary school from Nova Scotia through a focus group with 6 grade five students, and individual interviews with 6 parents and 11 school staff members. Under the constructivist paradigm, the methodology chosen was social constructionism using constant comparative analysis. Significant themes that emerged from the data included: schools have a role in children’s eating habits; school culture is important for supporting a healthy food environment; and the food brought from home is the unhealthiest part of the school food environment. This research contributes to knowledge on the school’s impact on student eating behaviour, effectiveness of the policy, and the development of future research.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2007. / Title from title page screen (viewed on June 05, 2008). Thesis advisor: Melissa Hansen-Petrik. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) was established to provide meals that would meet one-third of the daily nutritional needs of children. Administrators of NSLP understand the responsibility to address the rising increase of obesity in children today. The purpose of this study was to examine the educational attainment, food and nutrition knowledge, nutrition attitudes, nutrition behaviors and nutrition training of 411 Indiana School Food Service Directors, through the completion of a 50 itemized questionnaire. The hypothesis of this research was to show that the educational attainment of Indiana School Food Service Directors would not impact their food and nutrition knowledge, nutrition attitudes, nutrition behaviors or nutrition training.A statistical significance (p<0.036) was found when analyzing nutrition attitudes between the respondents in the 41-50 year age group and the 61-70 year age group. Results indicated the 41-50 year old group had a more positive nutrition attitude than the 61-50 year age group. Additional analysis of the questionnaire results revealed no statistical significant difference between Indiana School Food Service Directors' educational attainment and nutrition attitude, nutrition behaviors, or nutrition training. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

No início de 2006, grupo formado por escolas da rede pública do estado de São Paulo, entre elas três do município de Piracicaba (SP), aderiu ao programa &#34;Escola de Tempo Integral&#34;. Tal situação demandou substanciais ajustes na alimentação distribuída nas unidades de ensino, com vistas ao atendimento das necessidades nutricionais dos alunos durante a maior jornada de aulas. No município de Piracicaba (SP), em caráter experimental, o preparo da merenda escolar em uma dessas unidades foi assumido por uma empresa de serviços de alimentação, e a distribuição das refeições para as demais continuou a ser planejada e executada pela prefeitura do município. A presente pesquisa teve como objetivos avaliar as modalidades de gestão (autogestão e terceirização) do Programa de Alimentação Escolar (PAE) de Piracicaba (SP) e identificar as principais alterações impostas ao PAE, em decorrência da ampliação da jornada de aulas. A amostra envolveu duas unidades de ensino que aderiram ao programa &#34;Escola de Tempo Integral&#34;. Foram empregados roteiros especificamente elaborados que viabilizassem a avaliação das condições de preparo e distribuição das refeições, da higiene nas etapas de produção, da adesão e da aceitabilidade dos alunos à alimentação e do custo do programa decorrentes dos diferentes modelos de gestão. A percepção de amostra (n = 218) de escolares relativa às alterações no PAE foi identificada por meio de questionário. Junto aos pais/responsáveis foram obtidas informações acerca da percepção destes quanto aos diferentes modelos de gestão do PAE. Os resultados evidenciam que a aceitabilidade às refeições assemelhou-se à preconizada (85%). A análise da composição dos cardápios do programa revelou que estes se mostraram concordantes com as recomendações estabelecidas pelo governo estadual para as escolas de tempo integral no tocante ao conteúdo de proteínas e insuficientes no que diz respeito à expressiva parcela das vitaminas e minerais, especialmente quando são consideradas as demandas dos alunos com idade entre 11 e 14 anos. No que se refere à percepção dos pais quanto ao PAE administrado pela prefeitura, a maioria (59,4%) declarou que o programa é bem gerido pela administração pública. Quando questionados sobre a opinião quanto à possibilidade de terceirização do PAE, 38,7% dos pais/responsáveis afirmaram não ter avaliado as vantagens e desvantagens do processo. O acompanhamento da rotina de execução do programa confirmou que, em Piracicaba (SP), uma das principais dificuldades registradas pelos gestores públicos no que diz respeito à implementação do modelo de terceirização, refere-se à elaboração de documentos/editais onde constem especificações pormenorizadas dos contratos para prestação desse tipo de serviço. Como vantagens do sistema terceirizado destaca-se, entre outros, a disponibilidade de recursos para manutenção de infra-estrutura e equipamentos do PAE. O custo unitário da refeição distribuída no período do almoço alcançou R$ 1,11 para a empresa terceirizada e R$ 1,37 sob administração da prefeitura. Embora a experiência analisada tenha tido uma duração muito curta para viabilizar uma avaliação conclusiva, verifica-se que a terceirização pode contribuir para a melhoria da eficácia do PAE, implementado em Piracicaba (SP). / Since early 2006, a group of public network learning units from Sao Paulo State, including three from Piracicaba (SP), adhered to the state government &#34;Full-time School Program&#34;. This situation demanded adjustments to the meals offered at the units, trying to fulfill the students&#39; nutritional needs during most of the class journey. In Piracicaba (SP), as an experience, the preparation of the school meals in one of these units was outsourced to a company specialized in food services and the distribution of food for the other two kept on being planned and made by the City Hall. The present survey had as goals to evaluate the management models (self-management and outsourcing) of the School Food Program (PAE) in Piracicaba (SP) and to identify the main changes imposed to the PAE due to the lengthening of the class period (full time). The sampling involved two units which had adhered to the &#34;Full-time School&#34; Program. A PAE routine assessment was performed in the units, applying routes trying to obtain the information which could allow the evaluation of the meals&#39; preparation and distribution, hygiene in the production phases, adhesion and acceptability of students to the meals and the cost of the program due to different management models. The sampling perception (n = 218) of students related to the changes on the PAE, was identified. With the parents/guardians, we gathered information related to their perception about the different PAE management models. The results show that the meals&#39; acceptability was similar to what was proclaimed (85%). The analysis on the program&#39;s meals composition revealed that these were in accordance with the recommendations for the full-time schools regarding the levels of proteins, and insufficient regarding an expressive part of vitamins and minerals, especially when we consider the demand of students between 11 and 14. As far as the parents&#39; perception to the PAE administered by the City Hall is concerned, most of them (58.4%) declared the program is well managed by the public administration. When questioned about their opinion on the possibility of outsourcing the PAE, 38.7% of the parents stated they had not evaluated the pros and cons in the process. Through following the program&#39;s execution routine it was possible to corroborate, in Piracicaba (SP), one of the main difficulties registered by the public managers regarding the implementation of the outsourcing model, in terms of elaborating documents/summons where there are detailed specifications of the contracts for this kind of service. As advantages from the outsourced system, we identified the availability of resources for maintaining the infrastructure and equipment for the PAE. The meal unit cost at lunchtime reached R$ 1.11 for the outsourced company and R$ 1.37 for the City Hall maintenance. Though the experience under scrutiny was too short for making a conclusive evaluation viable, we may check that the outsourcing may contribute for the improvement on the Piracicaba (SP) PAE efficiency.

Typescript. / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Thesis (M.F.C.S.)--Bowling Green State University, 2008. / Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 77 p. : 1 map. Includes bibliographical references.

No início de 2006, grupo formado por escolas da rede pública do estado de São Paulo, entre elas três do município de Piracicaba (SP), aderiu ao programa &#34;Escola de Tempo Integral&#34;. Tal situação demandou substanciais ajustes na alimentação distribuída nas unidades de ensino, com vistas ao atendimento das necessidades nutricionais dos alunos durante a maior jornada de aulas. No município de Piracicaba (SP), em caráter experimental, o preparo da merenda escolar em uma dessas unidades foi assumido por uma empresa de serviços de alimentação, e a distribuição das refeições para as demais continuou a ser planejada e executada pela prefeitura do município. A presente pesquisa teve como objetivos avaliar as modalidades de gestão (autogestão e terceirização) do Programa de Alimentação Escolar (PAE) de Piracicaba (SP) e identificar as principais alterações impostas ao PAE, em decorrência da ampliação da jornada de aulas. A amostra envolveu duas unidades de ensino que aderiram ao programa &#34;Escola de Tempo Integral&#34;. Foram empregados roteiros especificamente elaborados que viabilizassem a avaliação das condições de preparo e distribuição das refeições, da higiene nas etapas de produção, da adesão e da aceitabilidade dos alunos à alimentação e do custo do programa decorrentes dos diferentes modelos de gestão. A percepção de amostra (n = 218) de escolares relativa às alterações no PAE foi identificada por meio de questionário. Junto aos pais/responsáveis foram obtidas informações acerca da percepção destes quanto aos diferentes modelos de gestão do PAE. Os resultados evidenciam que a aceitabilidade às refeições assemelhou-se à preconizada (85%). A análise da composição dos cardápios do programa revelou que estes se mostraram concordantes com as recomendações estabelecidas pelo governo estadual para as escolas de tempo integral no tocante ao conteúdo de proteínas e insuficientes no que diz respeito à expressiva parcela das vitaminas e minerais, especialmente quando são consideradas as demandas dos alunos com idade entre 11 e 14 anos. No que se refere à percepção dos pais quanto ao PAE administrado pela prefeitura, a maioria (59,4%) declarou que o programa é bem gerido pela administração pública. Quando questionados sobre a opinião quanto à possibilidade de terceirização do PAE, 38,7% dos pais/responsáveis afirmaram não ter avaliado as vantagens e desvantagens do processo. O acompanhamento da rotina de execução do programa confirmou que, em Piracicaba (SP), uma das principais dificuldades registradas pelos gestores públicos no que diz respeito à implementação do modelo de terceirização, refere-se à elaboração de documentos/editais onde constem especificações pormenorizadas dos contratos para prestação desse tipo de serviço. Como vantagens do sistema terceirizado destaca-se, entre outros, a disponibilidade de recursos para manutenção de infra-estrutura e equipamentos do PAE. O custo unitário da refeição distribuída no período do almoço alcançou R$ 1,11 para a empresa terceirizada e R$ 1,37 sob administração da prefeitura. Embora a experiência analisada tenha tido uma duração muito curta para viabilizar uma avaliação conclusiva, verifica-se que a terceirização pode contribuir para a melhoria da eficácia do PAE, implementado em Piracicaba (SP). / Since early 2006, a group of public network learning units from Sao Paulo State, including three from Piracicaba (SP), adhered to the state government &#34;Full-time School Program&#34;. This situation demanded adjustments to the meals offered at the units, trying to fulfill the students&#39; nutritional needs during most of the class journey. In Piracicaba (SP), as an experience, the preparation of the school meals in one of these units was outsourced to a company specialized in food services and the distribution of food for the other two kept on being planned and made by the City Hall. The present survey had as goals to evaluate the management models (self-management and outsourcing) of the School Food Program (PAE) in Piracicaba (SP) and to identify the main changes imposed to the PAE due to the lengthening of the class period (full time). The sampling involved two units which had adhered to the &#34;Full-time School&#34; Program. A PAE routine assessment was performed in the units, applying routes trying to obtain the information which could allow the evaluation of the meals&#39; preparation and distribution, hygiene in the production phases, adhesion and acceptability of students to the meals and the cost of the program due to different management models. The sampling perception (n = 218) of students related to the changes on the PAE, was identified. With the parents/guardians, we gathered information related to their perception about the different PAE management models. The results show that the meals&#39; acceptability was similar to what was proclaimed (85%). The analysis on the program&#39;s meals composition revealed that these were in accordance with the recommendations for the full-time schools regarding the levels of proteins, and insufficient regarding an expressive part of vitamins and minerals, especially when we consider the demand of students between 11 and 14. As far as the parents&#39; perception to the PAE administered by the City Hall is concerned, most of them (58.4%) declared the program is well managed by the public administration. When questioned about their opinion on the possibility of outsourcing the PAE, 38.7% of the parents stated they had not evaluated the pros and cons in the process. Through following the program&#39;s execution routine it was possible to corroborate, in Piracicaba (SP), one of the main difficulties registered by the public managers regarding the implementation of the outsourcing model, in terms of elaborating documents/summons where there are detailed specifications of the contracts for this kind of service. As advantages from the outsourced system, we identified the availability of resources for maintaining the infrastructure and equipment for the PAE. The meal unit cost at lunchtime reached R$ 1.11 for the outsourced company and R$ 1.37 for the City Hall maintenance. Though the experience under scrutiny was too short for making a conclusive evaluation viable, we may check that the outsourcing may contribute for the improvement on the Piracicaba (SP) PAE efficiency.

Educational ministries have sought to address the increasing obesity rates across the world and promote optimal childhood health, growth, and intellectual development, by implementing school nutrition policies. In 2011, the Government of Ontario (Ministry of Education) implemented in an initiative: the School Food and Beverage Policy (P/PM 150). Although P/PM 150 is well intentioned, there remains a gap between what this policy states and the way in which it is being executed - resulting in unplanned and unexpected outcomes. To examine this divide and have another perspective on P/PM 150's execution, the following research question was addressed: How is Ontario's School Food and Beverage Policy (P/PM 150) being implemented in secondary schools by school boards and the Ministry of Education? This qualitative case study therefore explores the implementation of P/PM 150 from the perspective of school board supervisory officers in Ontario. Data collected from interviews as well as from P/PM 150 related content on the Ontario Ministry of Education, school board, and school websites/social media pages, were examined through a pragmatic lens. Thematic coding (using NVivo 10) was employed to analyze the interview data, whereas document and content analyses were used to examine the online content. A second coder analyzed a sample of websites and interview transcripts to ensure inter-rater reliability. Upon examining the interview transcripts, seven main themes emerged: 1) supervisory officer roles; 2) the importance of communication; 3) monitoring strategies; 4) P/PM 150 barriers and facilitators; 5) the policy's impact on pedagogy; 6) the P/PM 150 mindset; and 7) recommendations for promising practices. When analyzing the Ministry, school board, and individual school websites and social media pages, much of the content pertained to 1) the policy's subject matter (i.e., its layout, the policy's associated resources, etc.); 2) its administrative procedures; 3) the procedures' and P/PM 150's review processes; 4) the policy's implementation process (e.g., training, monitoring, etc.); 5) promoting P/PM 150; and 6) the policy's outcomes (e.g., nutrition education and partnerships). These findings may be of potential interest to the Government of Ontario (Ministry of Education), school boards, teachers, and policy designers in other sectors, such as health.