Madeleine Sigman-Grant1, Teresa A Byington2, Anne R Lindsay2, Minggen Lu3, Amy R Mobley4, Nurgül Fitzgerald5, Deana Hildebrand6. 1. Reno Cooperative Extension, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV. Electronic address: sigman-grantm@unce.unr.edu. 2. Reno Cooperative Extension, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV. 3. School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV. 4. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. 5. Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ. 6. Department of Nutritional Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in preschoolers' ability to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy foods and stated food preferences after participation in a nutrition education program. DESIGN: Pre-post comparison/intervention study with sites clustered based on center size and language. SETTING: Preschool classrooms. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 191 preschoolers from Nevada and 128 from Connecticut, New Jersey, and Oklahoma. INTERVENTION: All 4 Kids, a 24-lesson program taught by trained instructors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre- and post-assessment sum scores for identifying 18 foods; stated preference for, and distinguishing between, healthy vs unhealthy choice from 9 food pairs using a newly designed tool. ANALYSIS: t tests; multiple linear and logistic regression models. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement in identification scores from pre- to post-study for both groups from Nevada (P < .001). For preference and distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy foods, no differences were noted at pretest. At posttest, significantly more intervention than comparison preschoolers indicated a preference for healthier foods (P < .006) and an ability to distinguish them (P < .03). Outcome comparison between Nevada and 3 states demonstrated generalizability of the study tool. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Participation in All 4 Kids resulted in preschoolers' increased understanding of healthy foods and changed their stated food preferences.
OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in preschoolers' ability to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy foods and stated food preferences after participation in a nutrition education program. DESIGN: Pre-post comparison/intervention study with sites clustered based on center size and language. SETTING: Preschool classrooms. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 191 preschoolers from Nevada and 128 from Connecticut, New Jersey, and Oklahoma. INTERVENTION: All 4 Kids, a 24-lesson program taught by trained instructors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre- and post-assessment sum scores for identifying 18 foods; stated preference for, and distinguishing between, healthy vs unhealthy choice from 9 food pairs using a newly designed tool. ANALYSIS: t tests; multiple linear and logistic regression models. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement in identification scores from pre- to post-study for both groups from Nevada (P < .001). For preference and distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy foods, no differences were noted at pretest. At posttest, significantly more intervention than comparison preschoolers indicated a preference for healthier foods (P < .006) and an ability to distinguish them (P < .03). Outcome comparison between Nevada and 3 states demonstrated generalizability of the study tool. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Participation in All 4 Kids resulted in preschoolers' increased understanding of healthy foods and changed their stated food preferences.
Authors: Allison Karpyn; Michael Allen; Samantha Marks; Nicole Filion; Debora Humphrey; Ai Ye; Henry May; Meryl P Gardner Journal: Health Educ Behav Date: 2016-11-19
Authors: Maria Jose Romo-Palafox; Nalini Ranjit; Sara J Sweitzer; Cindy Roberts-Gray; Courtney E Byrd-Williams; Margaret E Briley; Deanna M Hoelscher Journal: J Acad Nutr Diet Date: 2018-03-01 Impact factor: 4.910
Authors: Anne R Lindsay; Angela Starrett; Ali Brian; Teresa A Byington; Jennifer Lucas; Madeleine Sigman-Grant Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-04-29 Impact factor: 3.390