Comparison of high school principals' and food service managers'/directors' opinions on school food policy

Heidi L Hancher-Rauch, Purdue University

Abstract

This study, grounded in ethical decision-making theory (Cranston et al., 2003), explored the current state of Indiana school nutrition policies and the perspectives of high school principals and food service providers. This study also compared these results with the previous work of French, Story & Fulkerson (2002), studying high school principals in Minnesota and their school food policies and practices. In this two-phase project, phase I included the mailing of the Indiana School Nutrition Policy Questionnaire to all Indiana high school principals and food service managers. Phase II included interviews with 10 principals and 10 food service providers, selected to represent a range of varying opinions, school types and locations. The sample comprised 146 participants, 81 high school principals, 4 assistant principals, 31 food service managers, 29 district food service directors, and one unspecified from both public and private schools, located in rural, suburban and urban locations. Results from Phase I are consistent with previous findings, indicating that there are few policies related to food and nutrition in Indiana high schools, with only 35% of respondents claiming their schools have any type of food policies. Nonetheless, a strong majority of participants claimed to have strong opinions about the importance of having school nutrition policies and a healthy school nutrition environment. It also discovered that principals and food service providers are viewed as being the most influential school and community members in setting school nutrition policy. Results from Phase 11 generally supported findings from Phase l, though there was some disagreement about the level of involvement of food service providers in setting policy related to foods and beverages served outside the school cafeteria. These interviews revealed that many food service providers are quietly making healthy improvements to the food offerings in their cafeterias without a formal policy requiring them to do so, but few such changes have occurred in school vending machines. Overall, the results of this study revealed that few Indiana high schools have nutrition policies that encourage a healthy eating environment and that little change is likely to occur without federal or state mandates.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Templin, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Nutrition|Public health

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