Current and Future Priorities for School Food and Nutrition Education in South Korea: Perspectives of Nutrition Teachers

Abstract

Background/Objectives: School-based food and nutrition education is an important public health strategy for developing healthy dietary behaviors during childhood and adolescence. However, limited qualitative evidence describes how nutrition teachers, who are simultaneously responsible for school meals, perceive established educational priorities and emerging needs. This study explored current and future priorities for school-based food and nutrition education in South Korea. Methods: Two online focus group interviews were conducted with eight nutrition teachers working in elementary, middle, and high schools. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis procedures. Results: Current priorities included foundational nutrition and food-related knowledge, balanced eating, environmental issues, low-sodium and low-sugar diets, understanding school meals, prevention of eating disorders and chronic diseases, and table manners and picky eating. Future needs centered on food choice and food literacy, sustainable diets, interdisciplinary education, and understanding diverse food cultures. Across themes, participants described a shift from primarily knowledge-focused instruction toward applied dietary competence, a broadening from individual disease prevention toward health and sustainability, and stronger integration of classroom education with school meals and other subjects. Conclusions: From the perspectives of the participating nutrition teachers, the findings provide formative evidence for curricula and interventions that combine foundational nutrition science with food-choice skills, age-appropriate preventive messages, sustainable dietary practices, and opportunities for behavioral application in the school meal setting. Future quantitative and intervention studies, including nationally representative samples, are needed before robust national priorities can be established.