School of Education faculty Tamara Rial-Faigenbaum, Ph.D., Andrea Hope, Ed.D., and Alexis Silverio, Ph.D., recently published in the Journal of School Health (Volume 96, Issue 6).
Their article, “‘Someone Stole My Popcorn’: Integrating Brief Nutrition Education Into a School-University Service-Learning Physical Activity Program,” examines how poor dietary habits disproportionately affect children in under-resourced schools, where limited time, staffing, and curricular demands can restrict access to structured nutrition education. The study was co-authored with Shannon Clifford, Ph.D., former Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies acting dean, and Staci Drewson, Ph.D., former chair and associate professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education.
“Healthy habits do not develop by chance. Through positive experiences with movement, nutrition, and supportive role models like the ones provided by the undergraduate students, children can build the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to support lifelong health,” Rial-Faigenbaum said.
The authors explored the implementation of brief nutrition education sessions within experiential service-learning school-based programs, including All Stars Moving Together (ASMT), a school-university service-learning physical activity program.
Their work also highlights participants’ experiences with the nutrition education component and offers insights into how schools and universities can collaborate to support student health and wellness.
Published by the American School Health Association, the Journal of School Health addresses practice, theory, and research related to the health and well-being of school-aged youth.