SNaK+ : A survey of children’s sodium, potassium, fruit, and vegetable intakes in schools

Teachers/principals:

• Watch a 6 minute video about the study
• Help us invite parents and students (video, email template, and online consent forms will be provided)

Tamariki:

• Watch a 5 minute video and complete an assent form
• Help take body measurements at school with researchers (weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure (10 minutes per student)
• Use our fun Veggie Meter to measure vegetable intake (2-3 minutes per student)
• Collect urine over 24 hours using equipment provided

What are the benefits?

• Schools receive a $500 sports equipment voucher
• Teachers receive free lesson plans aligned with the curriculum on the theme of Wellbeing and Healthy Eating (sample available on request) - a researcher will be available to facilitate the delivery of a lesson and provide equipment for activities as needed
• $60 will also be provided towards food and ingredients for a healthy celebration lesson
• Tamariki/children who take part will receive a $20 gift voucher
• All students learn about their health and wellbeing
• Feeling good! You will help us to gather valuable information about how much sodium, potassium, fruit, and vegetables Kiwi kids are eating, contributing to the development of a future co-designed project with tamariki to inform effective public health policies and programmes to support heart-healthy eating during childhood.

Any primary or intermediate school in the Auckland or Dunedin Region in New Zealand is eligible to take part (if your school is in another region please contact us – we will see if we can make it happen!).

To take part in this study, a child must be:

• Enrolled at the school participating in the study
• A student aged 8-13 years old, in a Year 3 to 8 class at that school
• Able to provide written assent to participate in the study
• Able to speak and understand English

For a child to participate in this study, parents/caregivers must:

• Be over the age of 18 years and able to provide written informed consent for their child to take part
• Provide a contact phone number and an email address on the consent form for the purpose of completing a short online survey and follow-up questionnaire
• Able to speak and understand English

Primary contact:

Dr Jeanette Rapson
Project Coordinator
School of Population Health, University of Auckland
Phone: 021-077-3419
Email: jeanette.rapson@auckland.ac.nz

Researchers' contact details:

Dr Helen Eyles
Principal Investigator
School of Population Health, University of Auckland
Phone: +64 9 923 2389
Email: h.eyles@auckland.ac.nz

Associate Professor Rachael McLean
Co-Investigator
Department of Preventive & Social Medicine, University of Otago
Phone: +64 3 479 9426
Email: rachael.mclean@otago.ac.nz

Kava Fuavao
Research Assistant
School of Population Health, University of Auckland
Phone: +64 21 285 7344
Email: k.fuavao@auckland.ac.nz

Māori and Pacific cultural advisors' contact details: 

Dr Geoffrey Kira (Ngā Puhi)
SNaK+ Study Māori Adviser
School of Health Sciences, Massey University
Phone: +64 4 979 3974 
Email: g.kira@massey.ac.nz

Associate Professor Vili Nosa
SNaK+ Study Pacific Adviser
School of Population Health, University of Auckland
Phone: +64 9 923 6906 
Email: v.nosa@auckland.ac.nz