Healthy Eating Champions Award For Elementary Schools

2009 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meizi He ◽  
Christine Callaghan ◽  
Anita Evans ◽  
Gillian Mandich
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Schools ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Program Improvement ◽  
Success Stories ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Public Health Initiative ◽  
Positive Feelings

Purpose: The Healthy Eating Champions Award for Elementary Schools (HEC) is a public health initiative that recognizes and rewards schools for their outstanding commitment to the promotion of nutrition, for nutrition education, and for making healthy foods and beverages available. This process evaluation assessed HEC implementation, identified benefits and barriers, and solicited suggestions for program improvement. Methods: In-person interviews with principals or their designates from 28 HEC participating schools were conducted in fall 2006. Results: Participants had positive feelings about the HEC program and shared many success stories. Perceived program benefits included increased student awareness about healthy eating, more student involvement in healthy eating initiatives, the creation of opportunities for goal setting and spirit boosting, and improved hygiene practices. The challenge of getting parents and teachers involved and the significant financial needs of schools in low-income areas were identified as challenges. Conclusions: Participants view the HEC program as having a positive impact on the healthy eating environment in schools.

scholarly journals Qualitative Evaluation of University Students’ Experience Delivering the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) Program

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 481-481
Author(s):  
Henna Muzaffar ◽  
Katherine Lamps ◽  
Nancy Prange ◽  
Julie Patterson ◽  
Andrea Hein
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Schools ◽  
Child Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Program Improvement ◽  
School Year ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Program Content ◽  
Northern Illinois University

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this research was to explore the perception of Northern Illinois University (NIU) students regarding delivery and benefits of the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) program in northern Illinois elementary schools. Methods The Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) program is a nationally accredited obesity prevention program that teaches children about nutrition, physical activity, and decreasing screen time. Every semester, undergraduate and graduate students from Northern Illinois University (NIU) participate in an experiential learning rotation with CATCH and deliver the program in elementary schools. After undergraduate and graduate NIU students delivered the CATCH program in local elementary schools during the 2019–2020 school year, they were sent an email questionnaire to probe their experience with CATCH and to seek suggestions for program improvement. This questionnaire consisted of 5 demographic prompts, followed by 10 open-ended questions. Grounded theory was used to analyze the responses. Two researchers assigned codes to each meaningful segment of data. From these codes, six common themes were identified. Results A total of 21 students responded (50% response rate) to the email questionnaire. The six identified themes include ‘Purpose of CATCH program’, ‘School facilities and resources’, ‘NIU students experience with CATCH lessons and activities’, ‘Benefits to NIU student’, ‘Benefits to children and teachers’, and ‘Identified weaknesses and suggested improvements to CATCH’. Each theme summarizes the NIU students’ responses relevant to that theme, including quotes from respondents. Conclusions University students that delivered the CATCH program appreciated the opportunity to practice in a real world setting, gained transferable professional skills, and learned CATCH program knowledge. Reflections on program content, delivery, and benefits to children can be used to strengthen CATCH and other future nutrition education programs for children. Funding Sources No funding sources were acquired or needed for this research project.

scholarly journals Corner Store Inventories, Purchases, and Strategies for Intervention

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 01-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent A Langellier ◽  
Jeremiah R. Garza ◽  
Michael L. Prelip ◽  
Deborah Glik ◽  
Ron Brookmeyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Low Income ◽  
The United States ◽  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Marshall Islands ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Food Stores ◽  
Corner Store ◽  
Food Retail Environment

Introduction: An increasingly popular strategy to improve the food retail environment and promote healthy eating in low-income and minority communities is the corner store conversion. This approach involves partnering with small ‘corner’ food stores to expand access to high-quality fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods. Methods: We conducted a structured review of the literature to assess inventories and sales in corner stores, as well as to identify intervention strategies employed by corner store conversions. Results: Our review returned eight descriptive studies that discussed corner store inventories and sales, as well as ten intervention studies discussing six unique corner store conversion interventions in the United States, the Marshall Islands, and Canada. Common intervention strategies included: 1) partnering with an existing store, 2) stocking healthy foods, and 3) social marketing and nutrition education. We summarize each strategy and review the effectiveness of overall corner store conversions at changing peoples’ food purchasing, preparation, and consumption behaviors. Conclusions: Consumption of fresh, healthy, affordable foods could be improved by supporting existing retailers to expand their selection of healthy foods and promoting healthy eating at the neighborhood level. Additional corner store conversions should be conducted to determine the effectiveness and importance of specific intervention strategies.

scholarly journals Exploring Healthy Eating and Exercise Behaviors Among Low-Income Breastfeeding Mothers

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra L. MacMillan Uribe ◽  
Beth H. Olson
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Infant Health ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Health Behavior Change ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Weight Retention ◽  
Postpartum Weight

Background: Postpartum weight retention is often a significant contributor to overweight and obesity. Lactation is typically not sufficient for mothers to return to pre-pregnancy weight. Modifiable health behaviors (e.g., healthy eating and exercise) are important for postpartum weight loss; however, engagement among mothers, especially those who are resource-limited, is low. A deeper understanding of low-income breastfeeding mothers’ healthy-eating and exercise experience, a population that may have unique motivators for health-behavior change, may facilitate creation of effective intervention strategies for these women. Research Aim: To describe the healthy-eating and exercise experiences of low-income postpartum women who choose to breastfeed. Methods: Focus group discussions were conducted with low-income mothers ( N = 21) who breastfed and had a child who was 3 years old or younger. Transcript analysis employed integrated grounded analysis using both a priori codes informed by the theory of planned behavior and grounded codes. Results: Three major themes were identified from five focus groups: (a) Mothers were unable to focus on their own diet and exercise due to preoccupation with infant needs and more perceived barriers than facilitators; (b) mothers became motivated to eat healthfully if it benefited the infant; and (c) mothers did not seek out information on maternal nutrition or exercise but used the Internet for infant-health information and health professionals for breastfeeding information. Conclusion: Low-income breastfeeding mothers may be more receptive to nutrition education or interventions that focus on the mother-infant dyad rather than solely on maternal health.

scholarly journals Putting Knowledge into Practice: Low-Income Women Talk about Food Choice Decisions

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (14) ◽  
pp. 5092
Author(s):  
Shelly M. Palmer ◽  
Simon T. Knoblauch ◽  
Donna M. Winham ◽  
Molly B. Hiller ◽  
Mack C. Shelley
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Food Choice ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Diet Change ◽  
Model Framework

Insights into barriers and facilitators for healthy eating are needed to improve low-income women’s diets and to decrease disease risk. The study objectives were to explore women’s qualitative perceptions of influences on their food choices such as food security, their knowledge of nutrition-related health risk factors and self-efficacy for diet change, and their dietary intakes in practice. Thirty-six women, aged 19–50, who were eligible to receive income-based assistance were recruited in central Iowa. Focus group discussions on defining healthy foods, influences on food choice, and nutrition information sources were analyzed using a socioecological model framework. Demographics, nutrient intake estimates, food security status, health behaviors, and self-efficacy for nutrition behavior change were collected by survey. Most participants were White (61%), single (69%), food insecure (69%), and living with children (67%). Few women met dietary recommendations. Barriers to healthy eating include cost, convenience/preparation time, family taste preferences, and limitations of federal food assistance programs. Facilitators are high self-efficacy for nutrition change and health knowledge on average. These results challenge the strategy of using nutrition education to improve healthy eating and instead show that intervention messaging should focus on limited, achievable steps to improve dietary choices that fit within cost, convenience, and taste constraints.

scholarly journals The effect of a fresh produce incentive paired with cooking and nutrition education on healthy eating in low-income households: a pilot study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Angela R Fertig ◽  
Xuyang Tang ◽  
Heather M Dahlen
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Financial Incentive ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group

Abstract Objective: This study pilot-tested combining financial incentives to purchase fruits and vegetables with nutrition education focused on cooking to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables and improve attitudes around healthy eating on a budget among low-income adults. The goal of the pilot study was to examine implementation feasibility and fidelity, acceptability of the intervention components by participants and effectiveness. Design: The study design was a pre-post individual-level comparison without a control group. The pilot intervention included two components, a scan card providing free produce up to a weekly maximum dollar amount for use over a 2-month period, and two sessions of tailored nutrition and cooking education. Outcomes included self-reported attitudes about healthy eating and daily fruit and vegetable consumption from one 24-h dietary recall collected before and after the intervention. Setting: Greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area in Minnesota. Participants: Adults (n 120) were recruited from five community food pantries. Results: Findings indicated that the financial incentive component of the intervention was highly feasible and acceptable to participants, but attendance at the nutrition education sessions was moderate. Participants had a statistically significant increase in the consumption of fruit, from an average of 1·00 cup/d to 1·78 cups/d (P < 0·001), but no significant change in vegetable consumption or attitudes with respect to their ability to put together a healthy meal. Conclusions: While combining financial incentives with nutrition education appears to be acceptable to low-income adult participants, barriers to attend nutrition education sessions need to be addressed in future research.

An Urban Food Store Intervention Positively Affects Food-Related Psychosocial Variables and Food Behaviors

2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 390-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Gittelsohn ◽  
Hee-Jung Song ◽  
Sonali Suratkar ◽  
Mohan B. Kumar ◽  
Elizabeth G. Henry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Food Store ◽  
Intervention Trial ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Food Stores ◽  
The Impact

Obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases are more prevalent in low-income urban areas, which commonly have limited access to healthy foods. The authors implemented an intervention trial in nine food stores, including two supermarkets and seven corner stores, in a low-income, predominantly African American area of Baltimore City, with a comparison group of eight stores in another low-income area of the city. The intervention (Baltimore Healthy Stores; BHS) included an environmental component to increase stocks of more nutritious foods and provided point-of-purchase promotions including signage for healthy choices and interactive nutrition education sessions. Using pre- and postassessments, the authors evaluated the impact of the program on 84 respondents sampled from the intervention and comparison areas. Exposure to intervention materials was modest in the intervention area, and overall healthy food purchasing scores, food knowledge, and self-efficacy did not show significant improvements associated with intervention status. However, based on adjusted multivariate regression results, the BHS program had a positive impact on healthfulness of food preparation methods and showed a trend toward improved intentions to make healthy food choices. Respondents in the intervention areas were significantly more likely to report purchasing promoted foods because of the presence of a BHS shelf label. This is the first food store intervention trial in low-income urban communities to show positive impacts at the consumer level.

scholarly journals Participant voices: examining issue, program and policy priorities of SNAP-Ed eligible adults in California

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 407-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendi Gosliner ◽  
Heena Shah
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Multiple Challenges ◽  
Nutrition Assistance ◽  
Employed Parents

AbstractThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) aims to prevent obesity and chronic disease among SNAP-eligible families by facilitating healthy eating and active living. This study aimed to capture the voices of California SNAP-Ed eligible parents to inform program planners of their challenges in feeding their families, their available supports and priorities for intervention. We conducted eight focus groups with 55 participants across five counties in California from May through August 2017. Trained researchers used Dedoose to code and analyze data for substantive themes and overarching findings.Ten key findings and 4 additional findings were identified. Participants experience multiple challenges, primarily inadequate income and limited access to high quality, affordable healthy food contrasted with easy access to affordable unhealthy food. Despite efforts to manage food resources, most struggle to afford adequate diets. Employed parents confront a particularly challenging dual poverty of money and time. Many parents report feeling guilt related to feeding their children. Participants appreciate available programs and services and suggest increasing community input; providing sustainable programs; lowering the cost of and improving access to healthy food; reducing access to unhealthy food; modifying food assistance efforts; and improving nutrition education and promotion. Overall, low-income parents in California struggle to feed their families the way they would like. Participants generally understand what to feed their children, but struggle with how to do it, perceiving their circumstances and environments as inhospitable to healthy eating. Participants' suggestions can help SNAP-Ed programs and other efforts better support families' needs.

scholarly journals The Translation of School Based Nutrition into Home Eating Behaviors (OR13-05-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Weisberg-Shapiro ◽  
Victoria Biancavilla ◽  
Camille Chan ◽  
Tiffany Yeh
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Elementary School ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Upstate New York ◽  
School Based

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess how a school based nutrition education program in a low-income rural elementary school in upstate New York influenced families’ eating behaviors. Methods Students attending an elementary school in a low-income, rural community in upstate New York attended monthly nutrition education sessions and cooking demonstrations that included child-friendly recipes for fruits and vegetables. Recipes from the cooking demonstration were sent home with the children. In year two and three of the program, twenty caregivers participated in 45–75 qualitative interviews assessing how the program influenced the families’ eating behaviors. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded in Atlas TI using a grounded theory approach. In addition, the community's food availability was assessed using google maps and ground truthing. Results Preliminary findings indicate that families did not change their eating behaviors in response to the school based nutrition program. Most parents reported that they received the recipes from school and some reported trying recipes. However, with the exception of one family, overall eating patterns and food routines did not change. Parents who described a low consumption of fruits and vegetables indicated that barriers to incorporating the recipes, and healthy foods in general, into their food routines included perception of children's food preferences, time constraints and financial constraints. Parents who described a high consumption of fruits and vegetables indicated that they did not incorporate recipes into their routines because they already had healthy eating routines. Conclusions School based programs should engage families in community events and family cooking classes. These events should aim to assist parents in navigating barriers to healthy eating. Funding Sources Engaged Cornell.

scholarly journals Caregiver Perceptions of Environmental Facilitators and Barriers to Healthy Eating and Active Living During Summer: Findings from the Project SWEAT Study (P04-143-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Sharn ◽  
Laura Hopkins ◽  
Dan Remley ◽  
Carolyn Gunther
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Active Living ◽  
School Site ◽  
Environmental Barriers ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers ◽  
Neighborhood Level

Abstract Objectives To determine caregiver perceptions of neighborhood-level environmental barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and active living (HEAL) among children living in low-income, urban neighborhoods during the summer. Methods The current study was a part of a prospective observational study - Project SWEAT - which investigated determinants of unhealthy weight gain during the summer months in economically disadvantaged school-age children. Caregivers with students in grades preK–5th attending 2 Columbus, OH elementary schools were recruited. Participants completed a demographic survey. To explore neighborhood-level environmental barriers and facilitators to HEAL, participants engaged in a modified HEAL MAPPS (Healthy Eating Active Living Mapping Attributes using Participatory Photographic Surveys) protocol, which included 5 phases: 1) orientation; 2) photographing and geotagging facilitators and barriers to HEAL on daily routes using a Garmin Oregon 650 device; 3) in-depth interview (IDI) discussing images and routes taken; 4) focus group per school site; and 5) culminating local community stakeholder meeting. Results Ten families enrolled; 9 families completed photographing, geotagging and IDIs; 5 families participated in focus groups. A majority (77.8%, n = 7) of caregivers were African-American, female (88.9%, n = 8), and low-income (55.6%, n = 5). Preliminary analyses of photograph and IDI themes include: 1) walkway infrastructure crucial for healthy eating and active living; 2) scarce accessibility to healthy, affordable foods; 3) multiple abandoned properties; and 4) unsafe activity near common neighborhood routes. Conclusions Results from this pilot indicate caregivers perceive both environmental barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and active living during the summer. Additional research should be conducted to confirm findings from this study and compare findings to different settings (e.g., rural and suburban). Funding Sources USDA North Central Nutrition Education Center for Excellence.

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