Browsing by Author "Bergman, Mona"

Comprehensive school pupils in Finland have a right to healthy and free school meals. The purpose of the school meals is to teach the pupils healthy ways of living, good eating habits, and to familiarize them with Finnish culture. The basis of this study lies in the hypothesis that, as no precise standards are given in the curriculum, the attitudes teachers have about nutrition education might affect the weight school meals are given in everyday life. The aim of this thesis is to research the outlooks that students in teacher education have towards school meals and its significance for students. The material for the thesis was collected with a web form, to which 83 responses were received in total. The material was analysed utilizing theory-based content analysis, at first simplifying received responses, and later assigning them to different categories. According to the research teachers think that schools meals are important for students, and the significance of school meals can be addressed from four viewpoints: 1) as an enhancer of national health, 2) as a conveyor of social and cultural information, 3) as a fortifier of self-efficacy and autonomy, 4) as value education. In the future it would be important to find out how all aspects of nutrition education could be fulfilled during school meals. At the moment is seems that health improvement and social skills are over-emphasized in nutrition education. These research findings aren't to be generalised, as qualitative analysis of a small group always brings individualism to the results. The results can, however, be seen as guidelines, they can serve as grounds for future research, and provoke conversation.