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Evaluation of a Backpack Feeding Program to Help Alleviate Child Hunger on Weekends
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2
POSTER SESSION: WELLNESS AND PUBLIC HEALTH Title: SMART FOODS ROCK 2nd & 3rd GRADE CURRICULUM INFLUENCES FOOD CHOICES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
Title: EVALUATION OF A BACKPACK FEEDING PROGRAM TO HELP ALLEVIATE CHILD HUNGER ON WEEKENDS
Author(s): K. M. Ensle, J. Brun, J. Daniel, R. Eitel, L. Igarteburu, E. Braswell, M. Pyne, V. Caravello, D. Scott; Family & Community Health Sciences, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, 300 North Ave East, Westfield, NJ
Author(s): N. Cotugna,1 S. Forbes2; 1Health, Nutrition & Exercise Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 2Food Bank of Delaware, Newark, DE
Learning Outcome: To describe the pre-post-test outcomes of nutrition knowledge and behavior after completion of eleven nutrition lessons focusing on the MyPyramid guidance system while following the principles of the High Scope educational method along with the NJ Core Curriculum Standards Text: Nutrition education that is age appropriate and behaviorallyfocused during the elementary school years is the first step toward establishing life-long healthy eating habits. Over 16% of our nation’s youth are overweight or obese and need to learn to make healthier food choices. The purpose of developing this curriculum was to disseminate the MyPyramid information through behaviorallyfocused lessons as part of the NJ Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program. The eleven lessons start with “Clean Hands” and then a general lesson on MyPyramid followed by “Milk”, Grains”, “Vegetables”, “Fruit” and “Meat & Beans”. “A Healthy Breakfast” and “Healthy Snacks” along with two additional lessons on “Apples” and “Citrus” give children information on how fruits are grown and harvested, along with their nutritional value in a healthy diet. The forty-five minutes includes discussion, demonstrations, tastings, and activity worksheets that reinforce nutrition along with math, language and science skills To measure impact, a validated pre/posttest is given at the first and last classes. Pre-Post test results (500) show increased knowledge and actual hand washing, and the inclusion of fruit/vegetable, dairy and whole grains daily. A validated teacher survey (200) has indicated increased intake of healthy foods by the youth. Teachers have observed improved food choices and consumption in the cafeteria, healthier snacks being brought from home and interest of parents in feeding their kids healthier foods. Youth and teachers both report the nutrition classes have helped all to make healthier snack and meal choices in school and at home.
Learning Outcome: Increase awareness of backpack programs and assess development and evaluation of one state’s program Text: America’s Second Harvest’s (ASH) Backpack Program was initiated to encourage network members to fill a gap for hungry children on weekends. ASH network food banks are invited to apply for pilot funding to develop these programs locally. Food Bank of Delaware (FBD) received a $20,000 grant to begin this program. Recipient sites were identified and a menu of foods was derived from donated and purchased products. Backpacks are filled with nutritious, non-perishable snacks such as milk boxes, fruit cups, sandwich crackers and microwaveable beans and franks and provide about 2000 kilocalories and 55 grams of protein. A nutrition education component is included monthly. The program is administered in low-income after school care sites where the staff is trained to identify chronically hungry children. FBD staff and volunteers package the foods in plastic bags and deliver them to the sites on Fridays. Site staff deposits the food bags into the FBD-provided backpacks and distribute them to the children who then return them on Mondays. Parents receive a note in the initial distribution explaining the program and can decline participation if they choose. The program was evaluated favorably by parents, children and site staffs. Results indicated that the majority of recipients are sharing the food with siblings. Parents noted improved energy and behavior in their children. One-hundred children were served during the pilot school year and the project has received additional funding from local corporations to expand for the next school year. The Backpack programs are now available in 39 states nationwide. Funding Disclosure: America’s Second Harvest
Funding Disclosure: NJ Food Stamp Nutrition Education Grant
Title: YOGA AND MEDITATION: AN ADJUNCT TO NUTRITION COUNSELING IN WEIGHT MANAGEMENT: PROGRAM RATIONALE AND DESIGN Author(s): A. Kay; The Annie B. Kay Companies, Nantucket, MA Learning Outcome: Discuss the potential role of yoga in weight management Text: The obesity epidemic and its contributing factors are well documented. One factor, stress, is a trigger of weight-generating behaviors and the result of being over weight. Visceral obesity, a risk factor for several chronic diseases, is one adaptation to chronic stress. So, stress management is an important component of weight management. Meditation practice has clinical effects. These include a broad spectrum of occurrences such as reduced anxiety, pain, depression, and stress along with enhanced mood and self-esteem. The literature also supports yoga as an effective strategy for managing stress. Yoga and breath-based meditation, with their elements of cognitive discernment and provision of physical context for emotional work, may provide useful tools to facilitate transitions to healthier lifestyles. These practices may facilitate mindfulness during mealtimes, awareness of portions sizes, changes in eating speed and overall health-sustaining choices. The author combined the protocol for weight management outlined by NIH with yoga and meditation to promote weight-related behavior change. The program includes anthropometrics, intake analysis, goal setting, contingency planning and motivational support. Body-centered meditations, gentle yoga practice and conscious eating exercises are woven throughout. In addition to food journals, a series of journaling questions guide the exploration of yoga philosophy. Anecdotally, participants report moderate weight loss over time, and identify yoga techniques as facilitating healthier lifestyles. Detailed interviews are under way to refine data collection tools. Improved data at baseline and at follow-up intervals are necessary to ascertain the absolute benefits of this approach. Funding Disclosure: None A-98 / August 2007 Suppl 3—Abstracts Volume 107 Number 8
Title: FAMILY FITNESS PROGRAM: FOCUS GROUP RESEARCH Author(s): L. E. James,1 N. Kiernan,2 J. Byrnes3; 1Penn State Cooperative Extension, Sunbury, PA, 2College of Agricultual Sciences, Cooperative Extension, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 3Penn State Cooperative Extension, Philadelphia, PA Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to describe 1 or more qualitative research-based program methods that directed and improved a new child overweight prevention program to improve healthy eating, physical activity, and family communication behaviors in children grades 3-5 at or above a body mass index of 85. Text: Research Outcome: We designed a new research-based pilot program to improve healthy eating, physical activity, and family communication behaviors in children grades 3-5 and their parents/grandparents, and conducted focus group research as a process evaluation to determine the program’s effectiveness and needed improvements. Methods: In this focus group study we interviewed initial pilot group participants from 4 economically, regionally, and ethnically diverse sites. The research team coded data with both emic (insider) and etic (outsider) viewpoints. The team developed the patterns among the codes, and collapsed them into the specific categories by following the criteria of internal homogeneity within categories and heterogeneity across categories. Results: This process evaluation elucidated which program methods, e.g. marketing and recruitment, family interaction, level of parent and child involvement, particular program components, and evaluation tools, succeeded and which needed to be improved. Our research documents important ways to successfully run a joint parent/child community program to prevent childhood overweight, and specific successful levels of parent and child involvement. Conclusions: This study is unique as it specifically documents the recommendations from the target audience and locally influential school nurse collaborators. It also documents new effective ways to recruit and market this kind of program to parents, children and the community. We found families overcame many obstacles to attend a joint parent/child program on childhood overweight prevention. Some obstacles are documented in earlier research and were affirmed by our participants, but others have emerged in this study for the first time. Funding Disclosure: Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Seed Grant
POSTER SESSION: WELLNESS AND PUBLIC HEALTH Title: SMART FOODS ROCK 2nd & 3rd GRADE CURRICULUM INFLUENCES FOOD CHOICES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
Title: EVALUATION OF A BACKPACK FEEDING PROGRAM TO HELP ALLEVIATE CHILD HUNGER ON WEEKENDS
Author(s): K. M. Ensle, J. Brun, J. Daniel, R. Eitel, L. Igarteburu, E. Braswell, M. Pyne, V. Caravello, D. Scott; Family & Community Health Sciences, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, 300 North Ave East, Westfield, NJ
Author(s): N. Cotugna,1 S. Forbes2; 1Health, Nutrition & Exercise Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 2Food Bank of Delaware, Newark, DE
Learning Outcome: To describe the pre-post-test outcomes of nutrition knowledge and behavior after completion of eleven nutrition lessons focusing on the MyPyramid guidance system while following the principles of the High Scope educational method along with the NJ Core Curriculum Standards Text: Nutrition education that is age appropriate and behaviorallyfocused during the elementary school years is the first step toward establishing life-long healthy eating habits. Over 16% of our nation’s youth are overweight or obese and need to learn to make healthier food choices. The purpose of developing this curriculum was to disseminate the MyPyramid information through behaviorallyfocused lessons as part of the NJ Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program. The eleven lessons start with “Clean Hands” and then a general lesson on MyPyramid followed by “Milk”, Grains”, “Vegetables”, “Fruit” and “Meat & Beans”. “A Healthy Breakfast” and “Healthy Snacks” along with two additional lessons on “Apples” and “Citrus” give children information on how fruits are grown and harvested, along with their nutritional value in a healthy diet. The forty-five minutes includes discussion, demonstrations, tastings, and activity worksheets that reinforce nutrition along with math, language and science skills To measure impact, a validated pre/posttest is given at the first and last classes. Pre-Post test results (500) show increased knowledge and actual hand washing, and the inclusion of fruit/vegetable, dairy and whole grains daily. A validated teacher survey (200) has indicated increased intake of healthy foods by the youth. Teachers have observed improved food choices and consumption in the cafeteria, healthier snacks being brought from home and interest of parents in feeding their kids healthier foods. Youth and teachers both report the nutrition classes have helped all to make healthier snack and meal choices in school and at home.
Learning Outcome: Increase awareness of backpack programs and assess development and evaluation of one state’s program Text: America’s Second Harvest’s (ASH) Backpack Program was initiated to encourage network members to fill a gap for hungry children on weekends. ASH network food banks are invited to apply for pilot funding to develop these programs locally. Food Bank of Delaware (FBD) received a $20,000 grant to begin this program. Recipient sites were identified and a menu of foods was derived from donated and purchased products. Backpacks are filled with nutritious, non-perishable snacks such as milk boxes, fruit cups, sandwich crackers and microwaveable beans and franks and provide about 2000 kilocalories and 55 grams of protein. A nutrition education component is included monthly. The program is administered in low-income after school care sites where the staff is trained to identify chronically hungry children. FBD staff and volunteers package the foods in plastic bags and deliver them to the sites on Fridays. Site staff deposits the food bags into the FBD-provided backpacks and distribute them to the children who then return them on Mondays. Parents receive a note in the initial distribution explaining the program and can decline participation if they choose. The program was evaluated favorably by parents, children and site staffs. Results indicated that the majority of recipients are sharing the food with siblings. Parents noted improved energy and behavior in their children. One-hundred children were served during the pilot school year and the project has received additional funding from local corporations to expand for the next school year. The Backpack programs are now available in 39 states nationwide. Funding Disclosure: America’s Second Harvest
Funding Disclosure: NJ Food Stamp Nutrition Education Grant
Title: YOGA AND MEDITATION: AN ADJUNCT TO NUTRITION COUNSELING IN WEIGHT MANAGEMENT: PROGRAM RATIONALE AND DESIGN Author(s): A. Kay; The Annie B. Kay Companies, Nantucket, MA Learning Outcome: Discuss the potential role of yoga in weight management Text: The obesity epidemic and its contributing factors are well documented. One factor, stress, is a trigger of weight-generating behaviors and the result of being over weight. Visceral obesity, a risk factor for several chronic diseases, is one adaptation to chronic stress. So, stress management is an important component of weight management. Meditation practice has clinical effects. These include a broad spectrum of occurrences such as reduced anxiety, pain, depression, and stress along with enhanced mood and self-esteem. The literature also supports yoga as an effective strategy for managing stress. Yoga and breath-based meditation, with their elements of cognitive discernment and provision of physical context for emotional work, may provide useful tools to facilitate transitions to healthier lifestyles. These practices may facilitate mindfulness during mealtimes, awareness of portions sizes, changes in eating speed and overall health-sustaining choices. The author combined the protocol for weight management outlined by NIH with yoga and meditation to promote weight-related behavior change. The program includes anthropometrics, intake analysis, goal setting, contingency planning and motivational support. Body-centered meditations, gentle yoga practice and conscious eating exercises are woven throughout. In addition to food journals, a series of journaling questions guide the exploration of yoga philosophy. Anecdotally, participants report moderate weight loss over time, and identify yoga techniques as facilitating healthier lifestyles. Detailed interviews are under way to refine data collection tools. Improved data at baseline and at follow-up intervals are necessary to ascertain the absolute benefits of this approach. Funding Disclosure: None A-98 / August 2007 Suppl 3—Abstracts Volume 107 Number 8
Title: FAMILY FITNESS PROGRAM: FOCUS GROUP RESEARCH Author(s): L. E. James,1 N. Kiernan,2 J. Byrnes3; 1Penn State Cooperative Extension, Sunbury, PA, 2College of Agricultual Sciences, Cooperative Extension, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 3Penn State Cooperative Extension, Philadelphia, PA Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to describe 1 or more qualitative research-based program methods that directed and improved a new child overweight prevention program to improve healthy eating, physical activity, and family communication behaviors in children grades 3-5 at or above a body mass index of 85. Text: Research Outcome: We designed a new research-based pilot program to improve healthy eating, physical activity, and family communication behaviors in children grades 3-5 and their parents/grandparents, and conducted focus group research as a process evaluation to determine the program’s effectiveness and needed improvements. Methods: In this focus group study we interviewed initial pilot group participants from 4 economically, regionally, and ethnically diverse sites. The research team coded data with both emic (insider) and etic (outsider) viewpoints. The team developed the patterns among the codes, and collapsed them into the specific categories by following the criteria of internal homogeneity within categories and heterogeneity across categories. Results: This process evaluation elucidated which program methods, e.g. marketing and recruitment, family interaction, level of parent and child involvement, particular program components, and evaluation tools, succeeded and which needed to be improved. Our research documents important ways to successfully run a joint parent/child community program to prevent childhood overweight, and specific successful levels of parent and child involvement. Conclusions: This study is unique as it specifically documents the recommendations from the target audience and locally influential school nurse collaborators. It also documents new effective ways to recruit and market this kind of program to parents, children and the community. We found families overcame many obstacles to attend a joint parent/child program on childhood overweight prevention. Some obstacles are documented in earlier research and were affirmed by our participants, but others have emerged in this study for the first time. Funding Disclosure: Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Seed Grant