Educating for Children's Health: Lessons Learned on Facilitating Media Literacy & Food Marketing Programming

Health Promot Pract. 2023 May;24(3):585-587. doi: 10.1177/15248399211072532. Epub 2022 Jan 26.

Abstract

Food marketing is currently a multi-billion dollar industry. High levels of child-targeted food marketing, including on food packaging, suggests the need for media literacy skills to navigate persuasive techniques on food products. Evidence-based educational content on the topic of Media Literacy & Food Marketing (MLFM) was developed for children in Grades 3 to 9. This MLFM content has been taught to thousands of Canadian children across Canada, both in-person and virtually. This Practice Note highlights key strategies and lessons from implementing the program, and provides valuable insights into effective methods for empowering children's critical thinking around food promotion.

Keywords: children; critical skills; food marketing; food packaging; health; media literacy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Advertising* / methods
  • Canada
  • Child
  • Child Health*
  • Food
  • Humans
  • Literacy
  • Marketing / methods