Running head: MODELING OF HEALTHY BEHAVIORS

PPE 310: Health Literacy for Schools

Modeling of Healthy Behaviors
Signature Assignment
Emily Giddens and Janae Bobo
PPE 310 Deer Valley
Dr. Hesse

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Introduction
On average students spend about a third of their day at school. During this time, they are
watching school staff and all of the behaviors they put on display. Students pick up on the
behaviors modeled by the important people in their lives. A teacher can have a big impact on
healthy behaviors both in and out of school. The modeling of healthy behaviors should not just
be left up to individuals but instead should be implemented as a school wide approach. When the
whole school has adopted and promotes health in the curriculum the impact will be much greater.
Students will learn from their teachers, other staff and their peers. As a whole the school
environment should promote a healthy lifestyle that can impact the way students live in and
outside of school. As James Baldwin once said, Children have never been very good at listening
to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. Teachers tend to be some of the
students biggest role models which is why teachers modeling healthy behaviors is so important.
Review of Current Literature
Healthy lifestyle choices should be an area of focus in the early childhood years. Obesity
rates among US preschool-aged children is at an all-time high (Larson, Ward, Neelon, Story,
2011). Studies suggest that physical activity and proper nutrition are essential to growth and
development (Natale, Messiah, Asfour, Uhlhorn, Delamater, & Arheart, 2014). Children's
nutrition habits are formed by early childhood so this is a critical time to establish habits to
prevent obesity (Erinosho, Dixon, Young, Brotman, & Hayman, 2011). Not all children are
seeing healthy behaviors role-modeled in school and are not meeting national nutritional
standards. The results of previous studies have shown how important it is for children to develop

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healthy habits at an early age and revealed that many preschool programs were not modeling or
encouraging those healthy habits. These studies have been successful in increasing physical
activities and reducing the amount of sweetened beverages being consumed during the school
day (Natale, Messiah, Asfour, Uhlhorn, Delamater, & Arheart, 2014).
Teachers and parents can have an impact on childrens dietary behaviors through role
modeling (Erinosho, Hales, Mcwilliams, Emunah, & Ward, 2012). Children are more likely to
accept new foods when a role model is seen enthusiastically eating the food (Erinosho, Hales,
Mcwilliams, Emunah, & Ward, 2012). This provides a unique opportunity for parents and
teachers to become nutritional gatekeepers for the children in their care (Natale, Messiah,
Asfour, Uhlhorn, Delamater, & Arheart, 2014). When teachers eat lunch with their students it
provides an opportunity for their students to learn about healthy eating habits (Erinosho, Hales,
Mcwilliams, Emunah, & Ward, 2012). Observational learning can have a positive impact
depending on what the model is eating (Birch, & Anzman, 2010).
Personal beliefs and attitudes go hand in hand with modeling behaviors. Parents and
teachers make choices that are aligned to their attitudes and beliefs toward nutrition and this can
affect a childs beliefs as well (Natale, Messiah, Asfour, Uhlhorn, Delamater, & Arheart, 2014).
The majority of teachers report that being actively involved in modeling healthy behaviors is
important (Erinosho, Hales, Mcwilliams, Emunah, & Ward, 2012). However, in many cases what
teachers say they believe is important to do and what they actually do are not aligned. Future
interventions should encourage teachers to model healthy behavior through professional
development that highlights the importance of role modeling as well as the specifics involved in
it (Erinosho, Hales, Mcwilliams, Emunah, & Ward, 2012).

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Synthesis of Current Literature

The majority of the articles agree that health education should begin early in childhood.
Children develop habits concerning eating and exercising early on. Research finds that the most
influential role models that children have are their parents. Behavior and attitudes that teachers
display for their students can be influential as well. Students should have access to healthy foods
throughout the school day and have opportunities to exercise. Too often this does not happen.
Teachers should teach and model healthy habits.
According to Birch and Anzman observational learning can have a positive impact on
children when their role models are displaying healthy behaviors. Erinosho, Hales, Mcwilliams,
Emunah, and Ward surveyed teachers and the majority reported that they believed role modeling
healthy behaviors was important. However, in many cases what teachers say they believe is not
reflected in their actions. Researchers on the subject suggest that teachers have professional
development in this area and are offered incentives.
In order to reduce childhood obesity rates health education should begin in early
childhood. Role models should display healthy behavior while teaching children about making
healthy choices.
Practical Implications
To promote healthy eating habits schools could have a monthly after school cooking
program. Students who attend this after school program will cook healthy dishes with their
teachers. This can take place in the school cafeteria or at the local high school depending on
resources. All the meals will focus on including the foods in The Healthy Eating Plate. Through

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preparing the meal with their teacher, students will learn valuable life skills and about nutritional
foods.
This program can be promoted throughout the school through the weekly newsletters,
daily announcements and posters. The weekly newsletter that students take home to their parents
will have important information about the program including when and where it will be as well
as what students will be doing. The daily announcements will mention the program and what
meal students will be preparing that month. Posters around the school will have information
about the program and who to talk to for more information.
Money will need to be raised to buy the ingredients for the meals. Cookingware may
need to be purchased as well. Volunteers involved in the program can work with the PTSO to
develop fundraisers for these costs. One option to offset some of the costs is to allow parents to
pay for the meals that their child makes. The student can prepare the meal and serve it to their
family members.
The committee will consist of a mix of physical education teachers, elementary and
middle school teachers as well as any other volunteers. The committee will meet once a week to
plan for events and make preparations.
While the students are cooking with their teachers they will be following and learning
about the The Healthy Eating Plate. The students will see how a healthy meal should consist of
vegetables, whole grains, fruits, healthy protein, and water. Throughout this program new food
items will be introduced to the students along with ways to incorporate them into their daily
lifestyles. Daily life skill will also be taught to students because they will be cooking in a

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kitchen. The students will learn how to safely use kitchen appliances, handle food properly, and
safety precautions.
During this monthly after school cooking event students will be able to engage in cooking
activities with their teacher. The students will be will be able to see their teacher cook different
meals and follow the same cooking steps themselves. This event will involve a great deal of
hands on participation from meal prepping, to cooking the meal, and later serving it to their
guess for dinner.
This event will take place once a month at the nearest high school where cooking
classrooms and a large cafeteria are available with supplies. This will be held after school in the
evening on Fridays making it more accessible for all families.

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Conclusion

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Childhood obesity rates are on the rise. Children develop attitudes towards and habits
concerning eating and exercising at a young age. That is why it is important to teach kids healthy
behaviors starting in the early childhood years and continue reinforcing and expanding on that
knowledge throughout the school years. Children learn and develop many of their behaviors
through observational learning. This can be positive or negative depending on the behaviors that
they are observing. The role models in childrens lives, including teachers, should model healthy
behaviors.
One way for teachers to model making healthy food choices is through a cooking
program. In this program students will have the chance to meet with their teachers after school
once a month to cook a healthy meal together. Students will be taught about the Healthy Food
Plate and learn valuable life skills. This is a great opportunity for students to see some of the role
models in their lives cooking and eating healthy foods. The goal of this program is to develop
and instill in children healthy behavior that will last a lifetime.

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10
Resources

Birch, L. L., & Anzman, S. L. (2010). Learning to Eat in an Obesogenic Environment: A

Developmental Systems Perspective on Childhood Obesity. Child Development
Perspectives, 4(2), 138-143.
Erinosho, T., Dixon, L. B., Young, C., Brotman, L. M., & Hayman, L. L. (2011). Nutrition
Practices and Children's Dietary Intakes at 40 Child-Care Centers in New York City.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111(9), 1391-1397.
Erinosho, T. O., Hales, D. P., Mcwilliams, C. P., Emunah, J., & Ward, D. S. (2012).
Nutrition Policies at Child-Care Centers and Impact on Role Modeling of Healthy Eating
Behaviors of Caregivers. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 112(1), 119124.
Larson, N., Ward, D. S., Neelon, S. B., & Story, M. (2011). What Role Can Child-Care Settings
Play in Obesity Prevention? A Review of the Evidence and Call for Research Efforts.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111(9), 1343-1362.
Natale, R. A., Messiah, S. E., Asfour, L., Uhlhorn, S. B., Delamater, A., & Arheart, K.
L. (2014). Role Modeling as an Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Strategy.
Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 35(6), 378-387.