Nutrition students enhance school health education

Purpose - The purpose of the Nutrition Education Students and Teachers (NEST) project was to develop a model of collaboration between University of Delaware dietetics students and elementary teachers to promote nutrition education in the classroom.Design methodology approach - Junior and senior level students in a nutrition education course developed nutrition lessons with input from the school teachers on using age- and developmentally-appropriate methods. Actual presentations to 55 elementary children were conducted in a health science fair format. Written evaluations were completed by all involved in the project.Findings - The university students developed competency in teaching skills, the elementary school pupils gained nutrition knowledge and skills, and the classroom teachers were provided with valuable curriculum materials for future use. The project was rated as successful by students, teachers, the school children, and nutrition instructors. This demonstrated an innovative method to teach nutrition education principles to university students with a threefold outcome.Practical implications - Healthy eating behaviors need to be built in childhood, and schools are an ideal setting for nutrition education. However, resources are often limited. University professors should consider the use of live audiences for the development of teaching skills rather than the typical model of having students present to one another in their own classroom setting. Schools should consider the contribution that university students might make to their teaching programmes.Originality value - The paper describes an unusual, and cost-effective, method of health education, of value to the teaching about dietetics, and to other areas of health education.