Funding outcome

First Nations children in Canada are at high risk for obesity and obesity-related chronic disease. One strategy to improve the dietary intake and health of First Nations children is the use of school nutrition policies (SNPs), which guide the food and drink choices to be provided in schools and advocate nutrition education to support healthy dietary practices. The effectiveness of SNPs is dependent, in part, on social norms and student and parental support of policy development and implementation. Research concerning these factors is needed to move school nutrition policy action forward. Research is lacking on school nutrition policy (SNP) implementation in a First Nations context. A First Nation school in Alberta recently developed and implemented a SNP as a strategy to improve nutrition, and reduce and prevent obesity in children in the community. This research aims to understand 1) the perceptions of students and parents of the SNP guidelines, 2) which school, student, and family factors are enablers and barriers to school nutrition policy adoption, and, 3) adherence to the school nutrition policy. To achieve these aims, parents and students will participate in surveys and interviews about the SNP and their beliefs about healthy eating. School menus will be reviewed to investigate policy adherence. To provide context to the findings, the school environment will also be observed to document the types of food and drinks that are being served and sold, or brought by children from home. This research will strengthen the SNP by 1) understanding areas of non-compliance to guidelines, 2) focusing on the factors that are enabling policy adoption, and 3) reducing family and student barriers to policy adoption. The improved SNP will help ensure that the school environment provides all children with access to healthy food choices.