(P23-008-24) An Apple for Teachers? Assessing Nutrition Knowledge/Literacy and Identifying Barriers to Nutrition Education in Rural Schoolteachers

Objectives: Nutrition education for students is mandated for schools receiving National School Lunch Program funding. Educating students on nutrition requires educators with a basic understanding of nutrition; however, little is understood about the nutrition knowledge/literacy of teachers, as well as barriers to including nutrition education into standardized curriculum. Even less has been examined in underrepresented rural populations.

Methods: This mixed-method study examined nutrition knowledge/literacy of primary and secondary school educators (n=151) in 7 rural Midwestern schools. Knowledge was assessed using an online survey based on quizzes from the USDA MyPlate website; literacy was assessed using the Nutrition Literacy Assessment Instrument (NLit). Seven semi-structured interviews were also separately conducted with key stakeholders to assess nutrition education methods currently used and barriers to implementing nutrition education into school settings.

Results: Mean MyPlate knowledge score was 14.25 (SD ±2.9, range 4-19) out of 20. Mean NLit score was 45.75 (SD ±7.2, range 14-55) out of 64, bordering on “likelihood of low nutrition literacy”. In the cohort, 31 (26.7%) scored in the lowest level of nutrition literacy; no participant scored in the highest level of nutrition literacy. MyPlate knowledge and NLit scores were positively associated (Spearman’s r 0.52, p < 0.001). No differences in MyPlate knowledge or NLit score were found based on reported previous nutrition education. From interviews, use of MyPlate and other nutrition education methods varied greatly between schools and class types, with little standardization. Interviewees expressed interest in nutrition education for both teachers and students but described barriers of lacking time and resources to implementation.

Conclusions: Nutrition knowledge and literacy amongst schoolteachers was low. Current nutrition education varies wildly between schools and classes. Although desire for more nutrition education was expressed, multiple barriers to incorporating nutrition education into curricular standards were discovered. These findings will influence the next phase of our research: implementing a nutrition education program for teachers, highlighting methods to incorporate nutrition into curricular standards.

Funding Sources: UMKC Funding for Excellence program