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USDA Food and Nutrition Education: Does it Work?

            This article evaluates the success of the USDA’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education program focused on low income populations in the mountain region of the U.S.  The goal of this program is to increase the participants’ knowledge of food preparation, production, proper storage and safety.  It also teaches them how to make better food choices and helps facilitate behavior changes.  This study found that participants exited the program with a significantly higher knowledge of healthy foods and had improved skills for food preparation and storage.  Teaching a person about better food choices is not helpful unless they know how to cook them.  I think this program was successful in linking the two.  It is also important to note that this program took place over six classes.  Putting too much information in one class can increase confusion and overwhelm the participants.  Creating a weekly program allows the educators to provide a lot of information over a period of time without the participants only taking away half of the information.


Source:   Guenther, P., & Luick, B. (2015). Improved Overall Quality of Diets Reported by Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Participants in the Mountain Region. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 47(5).

AF

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