BOARDING SCHOOL HEALTHY EATING POLICY IMPLEMENTATION OPINIONS OF SCHOOL TEACHERS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

The collaboration between the Malaysian education and health ministry introduced a school healthy eating policy, where there was a requirement for food and drinks provided within the boarding schools to conform to standards based on macronutrients and energy content. The aim of the present study was to explore the experience of implementing a school healthy eating policy to inform the compliance of such policies being implemented into practices in the boarding school foodservice setting. A qualitative approach was used, with in-depth interviews exploring informants' involvement in, experiences of, factors affecting, and perceived outcomes of policy implementation. Interviews were conducted with fifteen teachers involves in administering the implementation of the school's healthy eating policy. Results were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Perceived challenges to implementation of school healthy eating policy included: students’ eating preferences, students’ eating style, unchanged menu cycle selections, and unhealthy choices of canteen menu. Teachers’ recommendations for successful implementation of policy to be well-practiced in real situations included: enhancement in nutritional education, revise menu, create a conducive healthy eating environment and limit the hours to the canteen. Participants identified that successful policy implementation hinged on the provision of resources and support by the government to the school stakeholders. Implementing a healthy eating policy within the boarding school setting benefits from dedicated resourcing, investment in relationship building with various stakeholders, and introducing changes gradually with a long-term approach.