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New Jersey Leaves No Bite Behind: A Climate Change and Food Waste Curriculum Intervention for Adolescents in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Sara Elnakib

    (Department of Family & Community Health Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

  • Sabrina Subhit

    (Department of Family & Community Health Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

  • Jennifer Shukaitis

    (Department of Family & Community Health Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

  • Amy Rowe

    (Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

  • Jeanine Cava

    (Department of Family & Community Health Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

  • Virginia Quick

    (Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

Abstract

Food waste is a major contributor to climate change. Schools offer a unique opportunity to educate on this issue while also reducing food waste generation; however, few climate-change education curricula that include a food waste component have been developed and tested with fidelity. Thus, the purpose of this cluster randomized controlled study was to assess the effectiveness of a climate change and food waste education program called NJ Leaves No Bite Behind (NJLNBB) among fifth-grade students. Lessons on food waste and sustainable food behaviors were developed that aligned with NJ Student Learning Standards for Climate Change and Next-Generation Science Standards. Participants (n = 162) completed pre- and post-test surveys that assessed knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and behaviors. Post-test, the experimental group (n = 102) had significantly ( p < 0.05) higher mean scores in knowledge, social norms, behavioral intentions, and perceived behavioral control compared to the control group (n = 60), with medium effect sizes, as determined by partial eta-squared. There were no significant between-group differences in mean score attitudes, self-efficacy, motivation to comply, or climate-friendly behaviors post-test. Almost three-quarters of participants who received the program agreed or strongly agreed the lessons were fun (75.5%), liked the card games (72.5), and learned a lot (78.4%). These findings are promising in terms of teaching adolescents the impacts of food waste on the climate.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Elnakib & Sabrina Subhit & Jennifer Shukaitis & Amy Rowe & Jeanine Cava & Virginia Quick, 2024. "New Jersey Leaves No Bite Behind: A Climate Change and Food Waste Curriculum Intervention for Adolescents in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(4), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:4:p:437-:d:1369547
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rehkamp, Sarah & Canning, Patrick N. & Hitaj, Claudia & Peters, Christian, 2020. "Resource Requirements of Food Demand in the United States," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304379, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Canning, Patrick & Rehkamp, Sarah & Hitaj, Claudia & Peters, Christian, 2020. "Resource Requirements of Food Demand in the United States," Economic Research Report 303676, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
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