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Teaching MyPlate to Low-Literate & Low-Income Families


The MyPlate graphic has proven to be very helpful when educating families on how to create a balanced meal.  However, if families have lower reading abilities the graphic is not as great of a tool to use for education.  This article discusses one approach to teaching MyPlate to low literate families in four steps.  Step one consists of asking the family what a typical meal looks like for them.  Once these foods are identified, it is possible to modify it to fit MyPlate guidelines.  Meal images are then created.  The second step is to show the meal images to the target audience to ensure acceptability.   Once meal images are appropriate, step three states education messages should be developed.  The messages should be simple, with few words so that the target audience can understand the message.  Step four tests the meal images with education messages for acceptability.  If the target audience shows an understanding then the education material is appropriate.  This article shows the education material they developed through this process.  They show several different plates of healthy foods that make a balanced meal.  I think this is a great idea for managing clients who have a lower education level.


Source:   Shilts, M., Johns, M., Lamp, C., Schneider, C., & Townsend, M. (2015). A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words: Customizing MyPlate for Low-Literate, Low-Income Families in 4 Steps. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 47(4).

AF

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