Schools Not Making the Grade on Nutrition Education, Parents Say

Children's Health Fund
Tuesday, 11 March 2003

Millions of U.S. Households Report Barriers to Getting Healthy Food

At a time when obesity has reached epidemic proportions among Americans, parents believe schools are not making the grade on nutrition education, according to a national Children's Health Fund/Marist Poll conducted between February 11 and 13, 2003. The survey of 1,018 adults, 336 of whom were parents with school aged children, found that parents rely on the school system to teach their children about eating healthfully, but most believe that the schools are failing in this effort.

Overall, 98 percent of parents with school aged children believe it is important for the schools to teach children about healthy food choices and 60 percent believe the schools should be doing more. Only one in five Latino and fewer than one in five African-American parents believe that the schools are doing enough to encourage nutritious eating habits among their children.

"We need to address this problem now, in the home, schools, community and the media or our children will pay the price," said Irwin Redlener, M.D., president of

The Children's Health Fund and The Children's Hospital at Montefiore. "Our society is marketing obesity and, by extension, disease to children via saturated television advertising, cross-promotions with movies and the toy industry, and easy access to vending machines in the schools. Poor children are disproportionately affected. There are a high number of fast-food restaurants in poor neighborhoods, and limited access to fresh foods and vegetables, and safe environments to play," he added.

Thirty-seven percent of parents polled feel that food served in schools is not nutritious and more than three out of four parents (78%) think it is a bad idea for vending machines selling candy and soda to be located near the school cafeteria.

In addition, the survey found that a significant number of people cannot find or afford fresh fruits and vegetables. Twenty-five percent, or more than 26 million households, report having difficulty getting or affording fresh fruits and vegetables, a problem cited by 40 percent of African-Americans, 27 percent of Latinos and 24 percent of Whites.

"Reversing the negative trends in child nutrition that contribute to childhood obesity requires addressing the socioeconomic disparities that exist, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, with regard to access and availability of nutritious food for children," said Dennis Johnson, executive vice president of The Children's Health Fund. "Parents have an expectation that the schools will help educate our kids to make healthier food choices but they have been less than successful in making the grade," he added.

The Children's Health Fund, founded in 1987, works to provide medical care to the nation's most medically underserved population – homeless and disadvantaged children. To date, The Children's Health Fund's national network of 15 pediatric programs has treated nearly 300,000 children.

This survey was conducted from February 11th through February 13th, 2003. 1,018 adults 18 years of age or older within the continental United States were interviewed by telephone. Telephone numbers were selected based upon a complete list of telephone exchanges from throughout the nation. The exchanges were selected to ensure that each region of the country was represented in proportion to its population. The results of the entire survey are statistically significant at ± 3%. There are 366 households with school age children. The results for this sub-sample are statistically significant at ± 5%. The error margin increases for cross-tabulations. For further information and survey results visit www.childrenshealthfund.org.

For more information, or to contact Children's Health Fund, see their website at: www.childrenshealthfund.org