Evaluation of a Pilot Healthy Lunch Education Program Delivered for Children in Grade Four Attending a School Located in an Area Facing Disadvantage in Greater Melbourne

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Australian primary school-aged children (4-12 years) consume approximately 40% of daily energy from energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and fewer than 3% meet the Australian dietary recommendations for daily fruit and vegetable intake. The aim of the study was to explore the effectiveness of a 4-week food and nutrition education program on children's food-related knowledge, behaviours, and self-efficacy (confidence) to pack a healthy lunch. METHODS: The program delivered weekly 1-h interactive sessions over four weeks to Grade 4 students in a Melbourne primary school. Online surveys measured students' knowledge, confidence, and behaviour pre- and post-intervention. Change in mean knowledge was assessed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. The changes for behaviour and confidence were analysed using the McNemar 2-related sample tests. RESULTS: Sixty students completed the pre- and post-surveys. The mean total knowledge score increased from 3.5 (±0.195) pre-intervention to 4.7 (±0.182) post-intervention (p = 0.001). Children's confidence to make healthy food swaps significantly increased from pre- to post-intervention (27%, 45%, p = 0.035). There was no change in foods brought to school pre- to post-intervention. CONCLUSION: A short pilot education program increased children's food and nutrition-related knowledge and confidence to make healthy food swaps. A program of longer duration may be beneficial to observe additional improvements in knowledge and behaviour change. SO WHAT?: Exposure to nutrition education can improve knowledge and confidence. Incorporating this program in the school curriculum would ensure that food and nutrition education is offered to all Australian primary school children.