This document summarizes research on nutrition education programs for low-income families. It discusses how obesity rates have increased dramatically for low-income communities and the importance of nutrition education programs in teaching healthy eating habits. The document outlines several nutrition education programs, including EFNEP and SNAP-Ed, and discusses barriers these programs face like limited access to healthy foods and economic concerns. It also reviews literature on early childhood nutrition programs and presents interviews and conclusions from experts in the field.

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Nutrition Education and Low-income families
Rachel Miller
Summer Scholars 2012

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Method:
 Literature review
 Interviews:
 Sue Snider: Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program
(EFNEP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program- Education
(SNAP-Ed), University of Delaware
 Tricia Jefferson: YMCA-Delaware
 Jennifer Barr: Moms Moving Forward- Christiana Care Hospital,
registered Dietician
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Importance of research:
 To analyze the effectiveness of nutrition education programs
 Obesity has more than tripled in the last 25 years: 8.7%-27.4%
 Overweight: 36.9%-62.0%
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Importance of research
 Limited access to healthy resources
 Limited understanding or concern for
mealtime behaviors,
portion sizing, healthy living
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Importance of Research
 Economic concerns outweigh health
 Time/ job conflicts
 Stigma & health care professionals
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Research Goal
Low income hunger-obesity paradox
How will nutrition education programs
effectively deal with this problem?
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Research questions:
 How are low-income neighborhoods affected by poor nutrition?
 What are nutrition programs aimed at low income families
trying to accomplish?
 What is the relationship between these programs and low-
income individuals in the community?
 Do these programs meet the nutritional needs of low-income
communities?
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Literature Review:
Reviewed nationally based programs (school-based programs, early
intervention programs)
SNAP-Ed
Federal program implemented in each state
Nutrition education for SNAP members
Goal: healthier food choices on a limited budget
effective to a point
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Literature Review
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
(EFNEP)
Help low-income individuals
attain a healthy lifestyle
adult and youth programs
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Data Collection
Improvements # improved # responded %
in one or more improvement
practice
Food resource 62,884 75,418 83%
management
practice
Nutrition 62,771 70,670 89%
practice
Food safety 50,256 75,996 66%
practice
Physical activity 11,389 23,172 49%
practice

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NIFA data, 2011- EFNEP
Food Group Entry Exit Change
Grains 5.6 5.5 0.00
Fruit 0.9 1.3 0.5
Vegetables 1.4 1.7 0.3
Milk 1.2 1.5 0.3
Meats 4.9 5.0 0.1
Oils 27.9 25.0 -2.9

12. + Literature Review:
 Nutrition Education aimed at toddlers (NEAT). Early
intervention program
 1. expand knowledge of food safety- hand washing, chocking
prevention, etc
 2. increase knowledge of self-regulation for toddler: portion setting,
meal time behavior, hunger/ fullness
 3. increase knowledge of managing family meals with toddlers –
parent/ toddler relations surrounding food
 Slight improvements (proper food prep, mealtime interaction, portion
sizing, food safety) but no significant long term diet changes
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Interviews
 Sue Snider: Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program
(EFNEP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program- Education
(SNAP-Ed), University of Delaware
 Tricia Jefferson: YMCA-Delaware
 Jennifer Barr: Moms Moving Forward- Christiana Care
Hospital, registered Dietician
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Interviews:
 Goals of nutrition education programs
 Group discussion and experiential learning
 Barriers to nutrition education programs:
 Trust
 Grants and proper funding
 Limited access to healthy foods
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Conclusions:
 Need proper funding for programs and expert financial planning
 Attentive staff: experts and paraprofessionals- help gain trust
among community members
 Must be discussion based and include experiential learning/
activities- the more hands-on the better
 Discuss the importance of appropriate meal time behaviors,
portion sizing, children setting their own preferences
 Learning the value of accessing healthy foods
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Conclusions
School gardens/ youth market
programs (CAMP FRESH)
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Long term goal:
 long term goal is to design the ideal
or quintessential nutrition education
program for low-income
communities.
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Thank you!
Dr. Bahira Trask
Faculty advisor
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19. + References
 "About SNAP-Ed." National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). N.p., n.d. Web. 12 July
 2012. http://www.nifa.usda.gov/nea/food/fsne/about
 Arnold, C. G., &Sobal, J. (2000). Food practices and nutrition knowledge after graduating the expanded food and
nutrition education program. Journal of Nutrition Education, 32(3), 130-138. Retrieved June 30, 2012, from the
Psycinfo database.
 CHANCE. (n.d.). FNEC Home. Retrieved July 22, 2012, from
http://www.fnec.cornell.edu/Our_Initiatives/CHANCE.cfm
 Camp FRESH at Christiana Care Health System. (n.d.). Christiana Care Health System. Retrieved July 23, 2012,
from http://www.christianacare.org/campfresh
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 Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) . (n.d.). National Institute of Food and Agriculture
(NIFA). Retrieved July 2, 2012, from http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/food/efnep/efnep.html
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Association, 297(1), 87-90. Retrieved June 22, 2012, from the Psycinfo database.

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References continued
 Hammerschmidt, P., Tackett, W., Golzynski, M., &Golzynski, D. (2011). Barriers to and facilitators of healthful eating and
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from the Psycinfo database.
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a curriculum integrating key nutrition, physical activity, and parenting practices to help prevent childhood obesity . Journal of
Nutrition Education and Behavior , 44(1), 90-92. Retrieved July 2, 2012, from the Web of Science database.
 Nord, M., & Parker, L. (2010). How adequately are food needs of children in low-income households being met?. Children and
Youth Services Review, 32(9), 1175-1185. Retrieved June 22, 2012, from the Psycinfo database.
 Horodynski, M. O., &Hoerr, S. (2004). Nutrition education aimed at toddlers- a pilot program for rural, low-income families.
Family Community Health, 37(2), 103-113.
 Omar, M., Coleman, G., &Hoerr, S. (2001). Healthy eating for rural low-income toddlers: caregivers' perceptions. Journal of
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database.
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body mass index among ethnic-immigrant and social class groups in the united states, 1976-2008. Journal of Community
Health, 36(1), 94-110. Retrieved July 2, 2012, from the Web of Science database.
 Vartanian, T., Houser, L., &Harkness, J. (2011). Food stamps and dependency: disentangling the short-term and long-term
economic effects of food stamp receipt and low income for young mothers. Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, 38(4), 101-
119. Retrieved July 2, 2012, from the Web of Science database.
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