Eleventh Global Studies Conference

Abstract

This study describes pre-service teachers’ perceptions of food literacy. The participants are EC-6 credential-seeking teacher candidates enrolled at a four-year public university in southeast Texas. One hundred and two students completed a survey. A constant-comparative method was applied to identify and classify critical elements in participant responses. The results suggest that the participants perceived themselves as knowledgeable of health and healthy foods. Family and friends were the most cited resource to obtain information about health and healthy foods. However, about one-third of the participants indicated they were aware of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The findings suggest a partial understanding of the recommended types and food amounts as put forth by the guidelines. Most respondents have a strong desire to improve their health status. Moreover, most participants played a role either in the selection of groceries or the preparation of meals within the household. Thus, their perceptions and habits will impact the other people in their homes. Understanding the teacher candidates’ food literacy is critical to developing food literacy and promoting a healthy lifestyle in this population, and by extension, to their students.