Allowing and Using Low Nutritional Value Foods for Celebrations, Rewards, and Motivators in K-12 School Classrooms: Teacher Candidates’ Beliefs at the University of Mississippi

Author

Chandler CohnFollow

Date of Award

Spring 4-24-2023

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

Education

First Advisor

Laurel Lambert

Second Advisor

Ann Monroe

Third Advisor

Alicia Stapp

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

Objective: Identify University of Mississippi teacher candidates’ beliefs and observations about offering low nutritional value foods for student events from their K-12 school placements.

Methods: A twenty-two-item, cross-sectional survey was developed with Qualtrics based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. The survey was distributed to juniors and seniors at the University of Mississippi, with a response rate of 79%.

Results: A majority of teacher candidates (69%) observed that their clinical instructor currently uses low nutritional value foods in the classroom to reward academic achievements, while only 38% agree that this is the right decision.

Conclusions and Implications: A greater focus on proper school wide nutrition programs and education at the full-time teacher level and more nutrition education at the university level would significantly improve the understanding and implementation of healthy nutrition practices in the classroom.

Recommended Citation

Cohn, Chandler, "Allowing and Using Low Nutritional Value Foods for Celebrations, Rewards, and Motivators in K-12 School Classrooms: Teacher Candidates’ Beliefs at the University of Mississippi" (2023). Honors Theses. 3004.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3004

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