January 2014 Summary

Improving the diets of children is important, given the high prevalence of overweight and obese children. Overconsumption of nutrient-poor foods that are high in solid fats and added sugars is one of the issues. The CHANGE study used an innovative, multi-component community-based intervention in rural America to improve the diets of children. Efforts to promote change within the school setting have the potential to reach a substantial number of children through systemic changes. More research is needed to examine how to improve other aspects of the children’s diets using the community-based model and to understand students’ awareness of whole-grain consumption.

Q1: In the CHANGE study, no differences were seen in whole-grain consumption, but it is possible that students were unaware of their whole-grain consumption.  How would you teach kids about whole-grain?

Everyone leaned towards simplicity since we are dealing with children. Many suggested bulletin boards for all the visual learners out there. Mostly everyone liked the simple label reading lesson also. Beth, Courtney, Arthur, and Jeanne all agreed that getting the parents involved with a handout would be beneficial since they are the ones doing the grocery shopping. Courtney also had a great point of using technology to our advantage. Numerous kids use their parents’ smart phones (or have one of their own) so they could download one of the nutrition apps that are out there. Tina brought up a great point that preparing recipes and letting the kids try them out would be a great learning opportunity (if feasible). Caroline made a good point that breakfast would be a great meal to focus on with all the cereals and their labeling.

Q2: What are some ways to inform students of good vs. bad food choices in the cafeteria during their breakfast and/or lunch periods?

Sarah made a valid point that there are no “good” or “bad” foods. A different label should have been used. The Stoplight method sounds like a great idea to everyone. Even ISU Campus Dining used this approach during their summer camps last year. Rewards are always great incentives for kids, so Emily’s idea with promoting the “meal of the day” sounded like a good one. Signage and bulletin boards were also suggested as a way to get the point across. Tina, Susan, and Aria all agreed that creating a fun movie clip or food mascot would grab kids’ attention. Making food fun is very important! Caroline and Arthur felt that a grading system (A-F) would be something that could be applied to foods too. 

Q3: Vegetable consumption can be particularly difficult to modify in children, and those in rural America tend to have limited access to fruits and vegetables. What are your ideas on ways to improve this issue?

School/community gardens were suggested numerous times. That way the kids (and parents) could get involved in the planting and harvesting process. Aria also stated that incorporating garden education in the classroom would be beneficial. Beth made a good point of offering a salad bar at lunch every day for the students to gain exposure to the fruits and vegetables. Government aid programs were also brought up. Susan suggested having the parents, not just the children, get involved in the learning. The thesis of one of the DI’s last year was brought up too which showed that vegetables could be incorporated into the spaghetti sauce in the cafeteria. Erin’s Fresh FAVs program was also mentioned on how beneficial it could be for this issue in rural America.