Tools to Assess Nutrition Education with Low-Income Families

2001 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. S1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Weimer ◽  
Patricia McKinney ◽  
Linda K. Benning
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Income Families

scholarly journals Mobile Phone Apps for Low-Income Participants in a Public Health Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Review and Analysis of Features (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Summer J Weber ◽  
Daniela Dawson ◽  
Haley Greene ◽  
Pamela C Hull
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
The United States ◽  
Infants And Children ◽  
Nutrition Program ◽  
User Reviews ◽  
User Input ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
Electronic Benefits Transfer

BACKGROUND Since 1972, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has been proven to improve the health of participating low-income women and children in the United States. Despite positive nutritional outcomes associated with WIC, the program needs updated tools to help future generations. Improving technology in federal nutrition programs is crucial for keeping nutrition resources accessible and easy for low-income families to use. OBJECTIVE This review aimed to analyze the main features of publicly available mobile phone apps for WIC participants. METHODS Keyword searches were performed in the app stores for the 2 most commonly used mobile phone operating systems between December 2017 and June 2018. Apps were included if they were relevant to WIC and excluded if the target users were not WIC participants. App features were reviewed and classified according to type and function. User reviews from the app stores were examined, including ratings and categorization of user review comments. RESULTS A total of 17 apps met selection criteria. Most apps (n=12) contained features that required verified access available only to WIC participants. Apps features were classified into categories: (1) shopping management (eg, finding and redeeming food benefits), (2) clinic appointment management (eg, appointment reminders and scheduling), (3) informational resources (eg, recipes, general food list, tips about how to use WIC, links to other resources), (4) WIC-required nutrition education modules, and (5) other user input. Positive user reviews indicated that apps with shopping management features were very useful. CONCLUSIONS WIC apps are becoming increasingly prevalent, especially in states that have implemented electronic benefits transfer for WIC. This review offers new contributions to the literature and practice, as practitioners, software developers, and health researchers seek to improve and expand technology in the program.

Planting Seeds to Grow Healthy Children: Strategic Community Partnerships

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-84
Author(s):  
Jessica Alicea-Planas ◽  
Kelly Sullivan ◽  
Hang Tran ◽  
Anna Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Community Partnerships ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Participant Satisfaction ◽  
Inner Cities ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
Main Ideas

More than one third of U.S adults are considered obese, and childhood obesity has more than doubled in the past 30 years. Food security can influence obesity, in particular, within inner cities where access to healthy food is often limited. The use of a mobile food truck program (with refrigeration) was implemented in two large inner cities in Connecticut as part of an initiative aimed at helping low-income families with young children gain access to healthy food and nutrition education. Collaborating with community child care centers was used. The experiences of the families who participated in the program were assessed via focus groups. Main ideas derived from the focus groups were participant satisfaction with money saving suggestions, ideas for how to make healthier choices, and excitement about opportunities to receive foods that they would not normally buy. This innovative mobile food truck program demonstrated the value of strategic community partnerships to influence health.

scholarly journals Perceptions of nutrition education classes offered in conjunction with a community-supported agriculture intervention among low-income families

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Isabel Lu ◽  
Karla L Hanson ◽  
Stephanie B Jilcott Pitts ◽  
Jane Kolodinsky ◽  
Alice S Ammerman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Nutrition Knowledge ◽  
Food Preservation ◽  
Community Supported Agriculture ◽  
Cost Offset ◽  
Low Income Families

Abstract Objective: To examine participants’ experiences with nutrition education classes that were implemented with and designed to complement a cost-offset community-supported agriculture (CSA) programme. Design: Qualitative analysis of data from twenty-eight focus groups with ninety-six participants enrolled in Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids (F3HK). Transcribed data were coded and analysed by a priori and emergent themes. Setting: Rural and micropolitan communities in New York, North Carolina, Vermont and Washington (USA). Participants: Ninety-six F3HK participants. Results: Participants found recipes and class activities helpful and reported improvements in nutrition knowledge, food preservation skills and home cooking behaviours for themselves and their children; they also reported that classes promoted a sense of community. Some educators better incorporated CSA produce into lessons, which participants reported as beneficial. Other obligations and class logistics were barriers to attendance; participants recommended that lessons be offered multiple times weekly at different times of day. Other suggestions included lengthening class duration to encourage social engagement; emphasising recipes to incorporate that week’s CSA produce and pantry staples and offering additional strategies to incorporate children in classes. Conclusion: Complementing a cost-offset CSA with nutrition education may enhance programme benefits to low-income families by improving nutrition knowledge and cooking behaviours. However, future interventions will benefit from ongoing coordination between educators and local growing trajectories to maximise timely coverage of unfamiliar produce in lessons; synchronous scheduling of CSA pick-up and classes for participant convenience and creative strategies to engage children and/or provide childcare.

scholarly journals Making community-supported agriculture accessible to low-income families: findings from the Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids process evaluation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A Garner ◽  
Stephanie B Jilcott Pitts ◽  
Karla L Hanson ◽  
Alice S Ammerman ◽  
Jane Kolodinsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Community Supported Agriculture ◽  
Geographically Dispersed ◽  
Cost Offset ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
Fresh Foods

Abstract A randomized trial of Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids (F3HK) was initiated across 4 states and 12 farms to test whether cost-offset community-supported agriculture (CO-CSA) could improve diet quality among children in low-income families. Intervention households purchased a 50% subsidized share of local produce and were invited to nine complimentary nutrition classes. The purpose of this study was to assess F3HK reach, dose, and fidelity via a mixed methods process evaluation. Screening and enrollment records indicated reach; study records and postlesson educator surveys tracked dose delivered; CSA pickup logs, lesson sign-in sheets, postseason participant surveys, and postlesson caregiver surveys assessed dose received; and coordinator audits and educator surveys tracked fidelity. Educator interviews contextualized findings. The results of this study were as follows. Reach: enrolled caregivers (n = 305) were older (p = .005) than eligible nonenrollees (n = 243) and more likely to be female (p < .001). Dose: mean CSA season was 21 weeks (interquartile range [IQR]: 19–23). Median CSA pickup was 88% of the weeks (IQR: 40–100). All sites offered each class at least once. Most adults (77%) and children (54%) attended at least one class; few attended all. Eighty-two percent of caregivers indicated that their household consumed most or all produce. Median lesson activity ratings were 5/5 (“very useful”). Fidelity: CSA locations functioned with integrity to project standards. Educators taught 92% of activities but frequently modified lesson order. This study demonstrates the feasibility of pairing a CO-CSA intervention with nutrition education across geographically dispersed sites. Greater integration of intervention elements and clearer allowance for site-level modifications, particularly for educational elements, may improve intervention dose and, ultimately, impact.

scholarly journals Toddler Feeding Among Low-income Families Shows Need for Nutrition Education to Address Sweetened Beverages, Unhealthy Snacks, and Responsive Feeding (P11-108-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay Fenn ◽  
Maria Romo-Palafox ◽  
Jennifer Harris ◽  
Valerie Duffy
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Reading Level ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Urban City ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
Targeted Messages ◽  
Unhealthy Snacks

Abstract Objectives To assess low-income parents’ understanding and conformity with expert guidance on feeding young toddlers and identify targeted messages to address gaps. Methods Survey of parents of toddlers (12-36 months) living in a low-income urban city to assess foods/beverages served in the previous week; responsive feeding practices; attitudes about expert guidance; food acculturation and security; and trusted information sources. Participants were recruited primarily from WIC offices and took the survey online. The survey was designed for a low reading level and pretested for understanding and content validity. Results Participants included 134 parents of diverse race/ethnicity (19% White non-Hispanic; 27% foreign born) and 83% WIC participants. Over 60% reported serving a variety of fruits/vegetable and serving them 5 or more times in the past week, 81% said their toddlers ate with the family, and 93% enjoyed mealtimes with their toddler. Yet some common practices did not follow recommendations. For example, 54% reported serving sweetened drinks to toddlers and 17% served sweetened milks. One-half served them in sippy cups for easy consumption and 63% in 8 + oz cups. The majority also served their toddler unhealthy snacks, including sweets (55%), salty snacks (52%) and crackers (78%). Nonresponsive feeding was also common. Only 13% reported that their child mostly/only decides how much to eat, and 55% reported that they make their child finish all food served sometimes/always. Most parents (68%) agreed that they knew best what to feed their child, but the majority also used health professionals and family as sources of nutrition information. The majority would be interested in getting information from doctors/nurses and dietitians, and would like to receive communications via email, handouts, in-person and/or texts. Although 81% used Facebook regularly, they were least interested in receiving health information through social media. Conclusions These results suggest that nutrition education messages focusing on healthier beverages and snacks for toddlers and responsive feeding would benefit low-income parents. Messages from health professionals, including dietitians, would be well-received. Funding Sources Child Health & Development Institute of Connecticut.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document