A theory-informed nutrition education intervention promotes fruit and vegetable consumption related behavior factors among elementary school children (P16-045-19)

In this 2019 study, a total of 115 children were recruited from four elementary schools in Texas (USA) to undergo a 6-week nutrition education intervention program. The curriculum consisted of weekly nutrition education (lasting 25 minutes per session) and cooking demonstrations (20 minutes once a week) for children, and weekly nutrition handout for their parents. The objective of this study was to measure the effectiveness of this intervention in promoting dietary-related behaviors connected to fruit and vegetable consumption. Surveys were handed out pre- and post-intervention to assess nutritional knowledge, preference for fruits and vegetables, and cooking self-efficacy. Before the intervention, the variables evaluated did not significantly vary among the schools (except ethnicity). Following the intervention, there seemed to be improvements in many of the outcomes (nutritional knowledge, fruit, and vegetable intake self-efficacy, and cooking self-efficacy). Nutrition education interventions that incorporate theory and focus on behavior can enhance children’s knowledge, cooking skills, preference for fruits and vegetables, and specific dietary behaviors. Further tests will need to be carried out to determine whether the behaviors and nutritional knowledge are retained after a certain period. [NPID: intervention, nutrition, education, program, dietary behaviors, eating behaviors, nutritional knowledge, cooking, fruits and veg, fruits and vegetables, USA, Texas]

Year: 2019

Reference: Saha, S., & Oldewage-Theron, W. (2019). A Theory-informed Nutrition Education Intervention Promotes Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Related Behavior Factors Among Elementary School Children (P16-045-19). Current Developments in Nutrition, 3(Suppl 1), nzz050.P16-045-19. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzz050.P16-045-19

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