20 October 2023
THE IMPACT OF A CHILD’S SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENT ON NUTRITION
EDUCATION
Exploring the issues, role models, and solutions for better nutritional education
for children
X x – ix
Maastricht University
Liberal Arts and Science
VSC1201
Word count: 1973
,Table of content
Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1
The impact of role models on children’s nutrition education.............................................................1
What is nutrition education?..................................................................................................................1
Importance of Role Models in shaping nutrition education...................................................................2
Teachers as Role Models in Nutrition Education....................................................................................2
Parents as Role Models in Nutrition Education......................................................................................3
Peers as Role Models in Nutrition Education and peer pressure............................................................3
Positive peer pressure in the Kokkerelli program..............................................................................4
Challenges of the Kokkerelli Program....................................................................................................5
Strategies to Improve a Social Environment......................................................................................5
Conclusion........................................................................................................................................ 6
References....................................................................................................................................... 8
Appendix........................................................................................................................................ 11
Appendix 1: Interview Suzanne Bisschop, Kokkerelli............................................................................11
Appendix 2: Statement of Conduct.......................................................................................................16
1
, Introduction
Social environments are argued to play the most significant role in a child’s
development. Whether it be from family, peers, schools, media or other societal influences,
the observations and social interactions will teach acceptable and unacceptable behavior. This
also applies on a nutritional level, where children absorb dietary information -whether it is
accurate or not- through these observations and interactions. It either leaves a negative or
positive impact on the development of a child’s nutritional behavior and on the understanding
of the importance of a healthy diet.
In the modern day, the fruit and vegetable consumption among children is still too low
and processed food too high. For example, in the United States approximately between 74,1%
and 83,8% of children aged 6 to 11 years old do not consume the recommended servings of
fruits and vegetables (Glen et al., 2013). This poor dietary pattern raises significant concerns
due to its association with an increased risk of obesity and various diseases (Langford et al.,
2015; Ogden et al., 2012).
Nevertheless, the observations made by children may not always be the primary
determinant of their dietary choices during their preadolescent years (9-12) and further which
this paper aims to determine such. This being the extent to which this social observation and
the environment around an individual – in their preadolescent years – might affect their diet
and knowledge of nutrition. To guide this exploration, the following research question is
formulated: “To what extent does a child’s social environment impact their nutritional
education?”
The impact of role models on children’s nutrition education
What is nutrition education?
Thus, to determine this statement, the idea of nutritional education needs to be broken
down. According to the Encyclopaedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition, nutrition education is
described as a process wherein an individual’s beliefs, attitudes, and the environment they are
exposed to collectively shape their understanding of dietary practice and lifestyle habits. The
philosophy behind these practices focuses on establishing nutritional lifestyle rather than
preventing bad health. (Deshpande, 2003)
THE IMPACT OF A CHILD’S SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENT ON NUTRITION
EDUCATION
Exploring the issues, role models, and solutions for better nutritional education
for children
X x – ix
Maastricht University
Liberal Arts and Science
VSC1201
Word count: 1973
,Table of content
Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1
The impact of role models on children’s nutrition education.............................................................1
What is nutrition education?..................................................................................................................1
Importance of Role Models in shaping nutrition education...................................................................2
Teachers as Role Models in Nutrition Education....................................................................................2
Parents as Role Models in Nutrition Education......................................................................................3
Peers as Role Models in Nutrition Education and peer pressure............................................................3
Positive peer pressure in the Kokkerelli program..............................................................................4
Challenges of the Kokkerelli Program....................................................................................................5
Strategies to Improve a Social Environment......................................................................................5
Conclusion........................................................................................................................................ 6
References....................................................................................................................................... 8
Appendix........................................................................................................................................ 11
Appendix 1: Interview Suzanne Bisschop, Kokkerelli............................................................................11
Appendix 2: Statement of Conduct.......................................................................................................16
1
, Introduction
Social environments are argued to play the most significant role in a child’s
development. Whether it be from family, peers, schools, media or other societal influences,
the observations and social interactions will teach acceptable and unacceptable behavior. This
also applies on a nutritional level, where children absorb dietary information -whether it is
accurate or not- through these observations and interactions. It either leaves a negative or
positive impact on the development of a child’s nutritional behavior and on the understanding
of the importance of a healthy diet.
In the modern day, the fruit and vegetable consumption among children is still too low
and processed food too high. For example, in the United States approximately between 74,1%
and 83,8% of children aged 6 to 11 years old do not consume the recommended servings of
fruits and vegetables (Glen et al., 2013). This poor dietary pattern raises significant concerns
due to its association with an increased risk of obesity and various diseases (Langford et al.,
2015; Ogden et al., 2012).
Nevertheless, the observations made by children may not always be the primary
determinant of their dietary choices during their preadolescent years (9-12) and further which
this paper aims to determine such. This being the extent to which this social observation and
the environment around an individual – in their preadolescent years – might affect their diet
and knowledge of nutrition. To guide this exploration, the following research question is
formulated: “To what extent does a child’s social environment impact their nutritional
education?”
The impact of role models on children’s nutrition education
What is nutrition education?
Thus, to determine this statement, the idea of nutritional education needs to be broken
down. According to the Encyclopaedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition, nutrition education is
described as a process wherein an individual’s beliefs, attitudes, and the environment they are
exposed to collectively shape their understanding of dietary practice and lifestyle habits. The
philosophy behind these practices focuses on establishing nutritional lifestyle rather than
preventing bad health. (Deshpande, 2003)
