Running head: FOOD EDUCATION 1

Should Schools Educate Students About Food?

Jyotsna Girgla

Fairleigh Dickinson University

FOOD EDUCATION 2

Should Schools Educate Students About Food?

Urbanization has made the society fast-paced resulting in changes in different aspects like

climate, travel, agriculture and education. Food consumption and nutrition are indispensable

components of survival and unfortunately have also been affected. Students lack the basic

information essential for sustaining a healthy lifestyle, therefore schools must intervene and

include courses on food in their curriculum. This would encourage young students to

differentiate between healthy and unhealthy food and reduce diet-related diseases. Firstly, this

basic recognition can teach children to make more nutritious choices, thus promoting a balanced

diet. Secondly, reduced consumption of unhealthy foods would result in a decline in lifestyle

diseases like diabetes and heart problems as certain food choices made by children between ages

9-17 can result in serious health implications. (Hamilton, McIlveen & Strugnell, 2000)
FOOD EDUCATION 3

References

Hamilton, J., McIlveen, H., & Strugnell, C. (2000). Educating young consumers - a food choice

model. Journal of Consumer Studies and Home Economics, 24(2), 113-123.

Mailow, T. (2017). Implementing an Education Program in Elementary Schools to Improve

Healthy Food Choices. Journal of Childhood Obesity, 2(2).