Food Education: A Global Need for Teacher Training and Resources

While the majority of respondents (96%) recognize the importance of food education as a fundamental component of a well-rounded curriculum, significant challenges hinder its widespread implementation. Key obstacles include time constraints, resource limitations, and a lack of adequate training and knowledge.

Key Findings:

  • Global Reach and Experience: Teachers from diverse backgrounds and experience levels participated in the survey, highlighting the global nature of the food education challenge.
  • Recognized Benefits: Educators overwhelmingly agree that integrating food literacy skills can positively impact students' learning in multiple subjects, including life skills, science, and health.
  • Limited Formal Training: A significant portion of teachers (78%) have not received formal training in food education, underscoring the need for professional development opportunities.
  • Incorporating Food Education: While many teachers incorporate food education into their classrooms, the frequency varies. More frequent integration could further enhance student learning.
  • Resource and Support Gaps: Teachers identified a critical need for resources such as lesson plans, professional development workshops, and collaboration opportunities with food service staff and local organizations.

To address these challenges and empower educators, FoodEducators is committed to developing resources that emphasize food literacy and education. By providing teachers with the necessary tools, training, and support, we can cultivate a generation of informed and empowered individuals who make healthy food choices and contribute to a sustainable food system.

The educators behind the survey: demographic information

  • The 314 Participants in our survey came from across the globe, the majority of them from Europe but we also had participants from Africa and the USA.
  • 68% percent had over 16 years of experience teaching, while 10 % were at their early career stages (up to 5 years of experience).
  • The teachers represented a variety of teaching expertise from preschool to robotics, and from biology to English language.
  • 78% of teachers did not receive any formal training in food education

Confidence and Knowledge

  • 96% agreed that food education is an important part of a well-rounded education and
  • 97% agree that Integrating food literacy skills can benefit students in multiple areas of learning.
  • Teachers see value in incorporating food education into a variety of school subjects, mainly: Life skills/ social skills (44%), Life science (21%), and Health and physical education (11%).

Current Food Education Practices

  • 58% incoporate food education into they everyday classes, out of them 55% incorporate it a few times a year and 30% on a monthly basis. Only 15% incorporate it more frequently.


Needs and Challenges 

  • 97% think that food education is important for their students.
  • The top 4 main challenges teachers cited were: lack of time in the curriculum, lack of resources or materials, lack of training or knowledge, lack of access to relevant resources.
  • The top 3 resources teachers cited that would help them in teaching food education are professional development workshops on food and nutrition, collaboration with food service staff or local food organizations and lesson plans aligned with specific grade levels.


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