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- Title
Project ReFresh: Testing the Efficacy of a School-Based Classroom and Cafeteria Intervention in Elementary School Children.
- Authors
Song, Hee‐Jung; Grutzmacher, Stephanie; Munger, Ash L.
- Abstract
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a school-based nutrition program using a cafeteria environment intervention and classroom nutrition education on self-reported fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption, self-efficacy to select FV, and preference for healthy foods. METHODS Using quasi-experimental pre-post design with 3 study conditions, a total of 665 fourth- and fifth-grade students participated in the study. The comprehensive intervention included a behavioral economics cafeteria intervention and weekly classroom nutrition education for 1 academic year. The intervention was designed and delivered by the extension system. RESULTS The comprehensive group showed significant improvement in some indicators including eating vegetables for lunch (p = .007), number of days eating vegetables (p < .001) and fruits (p < .001) in the last week, and self-efficacy in preparing FV at home (p = .034) compared to the control and cafeteria groups. Food preference of some food items, including oatmeal (p = .036 for cafeteria group, p < .001 for comprehensive group), whole grain noodles (p = .011 for comprehensive group), and vegetables (p = .003 for comprehensive group), significantly improved in the cafeteria and/or comprehensive group. CONCLUSIONS Classroom nutrition education combined with cafeteria improvement has the potential to improve diet-related behavior of elementary school children. Also, collaborative partnership between schools and extension can enhance program sustainability.
- Subjects
MARYLAND; STATISTICAL correlation; CURRICULUM; ELEMENTARY schools; FOOD preferences; FOOD service; FRUIT; INGESTION; RESEARCH methodology; MEDICAL cooperation; NUTRITION education; PROBABILITY theory; RESEARCH; SCALE analysis (Psychology); SCHOOL children; SELF-efficacy; VEGETABLES; PRE-tests &; post-tests; DATA analysis software; DESCRIPTIVE statistics
- Publication
Journal of School Health, 2016, Vol 86, Issue 7, p543
- ISSN
0022-4391
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/josh.12404