SLT agencies Principals-Teachers-School Nutrition Directors

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Attachment J – Individual Interview Guide for School Nutrition Director

Section I. Getting to know each other (5 minutes)

Hello, my name is _____________ and I’m a researcher from the Michael Cohen Group. We are conducting Discover MyPlate Kindergarten Curriculum at ____ elementary school. As part of that, I am interested in learning about your experience with the curriculum materials, the students, and other educators.

I want to assure you that anything you say will be kept secure and only used for research purposes except as otherwise required by law. This interview is being audio-recorded for research purposes only, and nothing you say in this interview will ever be reported in conjunction with your name, so please feel free to speak openly and honestly. Any questions before we begin?

Let’s start with some general questions:

1. What are your responsibilities?

   • (Probe: How much of your job is involved in interacting with the students?)

2. How are decisions about the menus made at your school?

• (Probe: Do the students have any say? Do they have any interest?)

Section II. Implementation of the Curriculum (13 minutes)

Over the past month you have been working with two kindergarten teachers to implement the Discover MyPlate Kindergarten Curriculum.

3. How much time did you or other school nutrition service staff spend on Discover MyPlate Curriculum Activities?

4. Do you think it is important for school nutrition services to be involved in these types of nutrition education efforts? Why or why not?

5. Describe what activities you and other school nutrition service staff were involved in?

6. How valuable do you feel these activities were? Why?

7. What other collaborations with school nutrition services would you suggest?

8. Do you feel that you were adequately involved with the implementation of the Discover MyPlate Kindergarten Curriculum at your school?

• What was the biggest challenge regarding school nutrition service involvement and collaboration with the Discover MyPlate curriculum?

• How was your experience in collaborating with the classroom teacher(s) on these lessons?

• What would make this process easier for you and your staff?

Section III. Curriculum Activities (5 minutes)

The Discover MyPlate Kindergarten Curriculum involved a number of activities including discussions, student challenges, and posters.

9. Tell me about your experience discussing the school’s meal menu items with the children.

   • Did you use any special signage to indicate the food groups or display any of the kindergarteners’ MyPlate displays in the cafeteria during this time period?

• Why, or why not?)

10. Describe your experiences in any of the food preparation activities done as part of the curriculum.

11. What tips would you give to teachers about collaborating with school nutrition services on these activities?

12. What did you think of the information provided to parents in the parent handouts (Attachment L) about lunch and breakfast? (show information to school food service if they have not already seen it)

    • What information would you add?

13. What did you think of the Discover MyPlate poster?

    • How could it be used in the school cafeteria?

    • Did you use it in the cafeteria?

    • Why or why not?

Section IV. Food Choice Changes (5 minutes)

14. Do you believe the nutritional information covered in the Discover MyPlate Kindergarten Curriculum was appropriate for the kindergarten children? If not, why? (Probe for relevance, accuracy, and appeal)

15. Have you noticed a change in the way students make food choices at lunch or breakfast since Discover MyPlate Kindergarten Curriculum began? If so, what changes?

16. Have you noticed a change in the way students talk about food since Discover MyPlate Kindergarten Curriculum began? If so, what changes?

17. Do you believe children and parents are more aware of their school lunch and breakfast options and how food is prepared? Why, or why not?

Section V. Wrap up (2 minutes)

We’ve talked a lot today about the content of the curriculum, how it was implemented and the changes you have seen. Now, I have just one last question.

18. Would you make any changes to the Discover MyPlate Kindergarten Curriculum? Why those?

• (Probe: On materials, training, additional etc.)

You have been great and have helped me a lot. Thanks so much for talking with me today!

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