Theorising Sustainable School Meals and Food Education. Provision in Primary Schools in England: A Realist Study

现有的研究型学校是促进健康和可持续饮食习惯的理想场所，Dillon等人进一步认为，FE是促进可持续未来的科学课程的“先决条件”。已经发现种植和烹饪等FE活动可以增加儿童的蔬菜和水果消费量。这一发现很重要，因为有证据表明，以植物为主的饮食，富含水果、蔬菜、坚果和豆类，可以对扭转气候变化产生重大影响——这仍然是ESRC（2017）的首要任务。研究建议，教育应该包括教育界、产业界和家长之间的合作。在与农场有密切联系的学校里，孩子们会吃更多的水果和蔬菜。还强调了未来研究探索学校膳食促进健康和可持续饮食行为的潜力的必要性。此外，父母在支持更健康的生活方式方面的作用已被确定为解决儿童肥胖的关键。证据强调了让整个学校社区、行业和外部专家参与确定将食品可持续性纳入课程的方法的重要性。在此基础上，本研究旨在调查一所小学目前的食物教育实践，在学校、餐饮公司、当地农场、家长、教育专家和研究者之间建立一个健康和可持续的食物教育（FEHS）伙伴关系，并反思其对灌输更可持续和更健康的饮食文化的影响。主要问题：FEHS伙伴关系在多大程度上可以在小学教育环境中培养健康和可持续的饮食文化？为了回答这个首要问题，我将在英国的一所小学中解决以下问题。a)目前的FE做法对健康和可持续饮食有何贡献？b)在实践中，有效的FEHS伙伴关系是什么样子的？c)学校、本地餐饮公司、家长、农场和教育机构如何合作推广健康和可持续的饮食？d)食品安全与健康中心的新伙伴关系对儿童的饮食习惯有何影响？参与式行动研究（PAR）的计划是因为它在影响现实世界社会变革方面的声誉，以及“发现事实、行动、反思、导致进一步调查、然后采取行动促进变革”的周期性。PAR改进了实践，并为知识开发提供了一种集体的、自我反思的替代方案。没有利益相关者的积极参与，就不可能达到研究的目的。其次，研究的参与性将增加所有利益相关者的承诺，这将意味着变化更有可能在研究结束后持续下去。研究人员选择了埃克塞特的圣伦纳德小学作为案例研究的对象，因为：-这所学校是城市学校；-是否有户外空间用作厨房花园和学生烹饪设施；-愿意与餐饮公司合作；-活跃的家长及教师协会。

Existing researchSchools are ideally placed to promote healthy and sustainable eating habits, with Dillon et al.further arguing that FE is a "prerequisite" for a science curriculum which promotes a sustainable future. FE activities such as growing and cooking have been found to enhance children's vegetable and fruit consumption. This finding is important as evidence suggests that the consumption of a mainly plant-based diet, rich in fruit, vegetables, nuts and legumes can have a significant impact in reversing climate change - which remains a top priority for the ESRC (2017).Research recommends that FE should involve collaboration between education, industry and parents. Children in schools with strong farm links have been found to eat more fruit and vegetables. The need for future research to explore the potential of school meals to promote healthy and sustainable food behaviour has also been highlighted. In addition, the role of parents in endorsing a healthier lifestyle has been pinpointed as key in tackling childhood obesity. Evidence stresses the importance of involving the whole school community, industry and external experts in identifying ways to integrate food sustainability into the curriculum.Based on this literature, this study aims to investigate current FE practice in a primary school setting, enact a Food Education for Health and Sustainability (FEHS) partnership between the school, a catering company, a local farm, parents, educational experts and the researcher, and reflect on its impact in instilling a more sustainable and healthier food culture.Main Question To what extent can a FEHS partnership develop a healthy and sustainable food culture in a primary education setting? To answer the overarching question, I will address the following questions within one primary school setting in the UK.a) What contribution does current FE practice make to a healthy and sustainable diet?b) What could an effective FEHS partnership look like in practice?c) How can the school, local catering company, parents, farm and educational organisations collaborate to promote healthy and sustainable diet?d) What is the impact of a new FEHS partnership on children's eating habits?MethodologyA participatory action research (PAR) is planned for its reputation in effecting real-world social change and the cyclical nature of "fact-finding, action, reflection, leading to further inquiry then action for change". PAR improves practice, and offers a collective, and self-reflective alternative to knowledge development. Without the active engagement of stakeholders, it will be impossible to achieve the aim of study. Secondly the participatory nature of the research will increase the commitment of all stakeholders, and will mean that the change is more likely to endure beyond the study.The researcher identified St Leonard's Primary School in Exeter for the case study because:- The school is city-based;- Availability of outdoor space for kitchen garden and pupil cooking facilities;- Willingness to collaborate from catering company;- An active Parents and Teachers Association (PTA).