Nutritional habits of primary school teachers and their attitudes to healthy diet
Barbara Premoš · Repository of the University of Ljubljana (University of Ljubljana) · 2015
A number of factors have an impact on eating habits of individuals. The most examined ones are social, economic, ethical and cultural elements of society in addition to the level of education of an individual and the accessibility and price of food. The master's thesis explores the eating habits of teachers who convey knowledge about diet and related content and help their students develop a healthy attitude towards healthy eating. The teacher's knowledge can also influence the dietary behaviour of their pupils. The research sample comprised 168 primary school teachers who taught different subjects in the 2014/2015 school year. The eating habits of primary school teachers and their attitude towards healthy eating were analysed based on a survey questionnaire. The research results suggest that teachers bear in mind the guidelines for healthy eating only to a certain extent. They avoid less recommended food that is high in fat and sugar, fast food and ready meals. The majority of the teachers often eat fruit and vegetables and have the recommended number of meals per day. Moreover, their attitude towards healthy eating is positive and they find that the school environment encourages the development of healthy eating habits in pupils. It is vital that teachers have healthy eating habits and a positive attitude towards healthy eating because they set a good example to their pupils. Considering our findings, it is necessary to inform teachers about the significance of healthy eating habits and encourage them to adopt positive viewpoints and behaviours in order to promote healthy eating among primary school pupils.