New Resources for Nutrition Education

Linda Kronheim, PA NEN

The American Dietetic Association’s conference in Philadelphia during October highlighted two new curriculums designed by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service for low-income adults eligible for food assistance programs.

The Eat Smart, Live Strong curriculum addresses the need for nutrition education materials for adults aged 60-74. Older adults face a different set of challenges than younger adults do when they are trying to improve their nutrition and physical activity behaviors. These challenges frequently include lower basic and health literacy (knowledge of health topics such as the relationship between diet and disease). In addition, seniors often must manage physical limitations that impact both eating behavior and activity levels. Interventions targeted to younger adults may not effectively translate to seniors. Eat Smart, Live Strong was developed specifically to address these concerns.

The material promotes two key behaviors that are repeated throughout each of four sessions. The behaviors are summarized in two brief messages: to eat three and a half cups of fruits and vegetables and to engage in thirty minutes of physical activity daily. The nutrition message was chosen to reflect the caloric needs of sedentary females (assumed to represent the majority of the target audience). Development of the curriculum was based on formative research which incorporated both published literature and interviews with program managers. Materials were reviewed by an expert panel and field-tested in three sites, with recommendations incorporated into the final curriculum.

These four sessions can be provided either as a series or as stand-alone classes. Goal-setting and motivational activities are integrated into each session; also included are handouts, feedback sheets, and optional warm-up/cool-down physical activities. The leader’s guide for the curriculum provides additional guidance for each session, motivation tips for older adults, ways to adapt material for special needs, methods to identify appropriate local resources, and techniques for promoting the project in the community. The sessions are titled “Reach Your Goals Step by Step,” “Challenges and Solutions,” “Colorful and Classic Favorites,” and “Eat Smart, Spend Less.” Reviewers commented that both the repetition of the simple message and the option for motivated seniors to track their progress via handouts are particular strengths of the curriculum. Eat Smart, Live Strong is due for release in winter of 2007.

he recently released Loving Your Family, Feeding Their Future curriculum was also highlighted at the ADA convention. This curriculum was developed out of the need for nutrition education materials that help low-income mothers overcome the barriers to healthy eating for a family. Preliminary research indicated that many families want quick and easy recipes, ways to promote good dietary and activity habits for children, and tips to stretch food resources. These ideas were incorporated into Loving Your Family, Feeding Their Future. This curriculum is approved for use in local TRACKS programming and has been implemented in some projects. Click here for reactions from Philadelphia about this new curriculum.

For more information on both on both the Eat Smart, Live Strong and Loving Your Family, Feeding Their Future curriculums please see the Nutrition Education Materials section of the FNS website: http://foodstamp.nal.usda.gov/