How shall we evaluate the effect of education on food and nutrition education in school?

Abstract

Background: In 2014, the Society for Nutrition Education in the Japanese Society of Health Education and Promotion held a workshop titled “Evaluation of Food and Nutrition Education in School-What is different or similar between academic evaluation and evaluation of health education or promotion?” Following a discussion about the unified theme, workshop participants studied evaluation from two different perspectives: academic evaluation and evaluation of health education or promotion practices. This article provides a summary of that discussion along with feedback from the participants, which was collected by a questionnaire.
Contents: The discussion consisted of two parts. First, participants were divided into 12 groups to discuss the theme from the viewpoints of various occupational and research fields. Discussion was done on two points: points of similarity and difference between evaluations from the two different perspectives, and evaluation of food and nutrition education in school in the future. Then, the participants, including the lecturers, presented their opinions and engaged in further discussion.
Conclusions: This workshop did not reach a conclusion about the evaluation of food and nutrition education in school in the future; however, it helped participants to understand the points of similarity and difference between evaluations from the two different perspectives and also to define tasks that should be addressed. We hope to continue studying and discussing the theme to suggest ways to further evaluate food and nutrition education in schools.