[{"id":52,"date":"2021-04-20T14:52:56","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T14:52:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/?page_id=52"},"modified":"2021-04-20T14:52:56","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T14:52:56","slug":"resources","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3606,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-52","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/52","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3606"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/52\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":40,"date":"2021-04-14T15:16:44","date_gmt":"2021-04-14T15:16:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/?page_id=40"},"modified":"2021-04-22T21:16:31","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T21:16:31","slug":"rationale","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/rationale\/","title":{"rendered":"Rationale"},"content":{"rendered":"

The CDC reports that approximately 18.4% of children between the ages of 6 and 11 are obese, while 25.8% of Hispanic children are considered obese (\u201cChildhood Obesity Facts,\u201d 2021). The USDA spends an estimated $14.1 billion per year to support school-based child nutrition programs such as free and reduced-price meals (FARMS) (\u201cNational School Lunch Program,\u201d 2020). Students facing greater social risks, including food insecurity, are at a greater risk of developing obesity, and studies suggest that obese children consume significantly more fast food and sugar-sweetened drinks compared to non-obese children (Suglia et al., 2013; Gillis & Bar-Or, 2003). An approach focused on increasing fruit and vegetable intake through nutrition education has been shown to reduce the risk of obesity and has the co-benefit of decreasing sugar and fat intake amongst children and their parents (Epstein et al., 2001). In particular, afterschool programming focused on nutrition education and physical activity has been shown to be an effective approach to increase fruit and vegetable consumption (Sandoval et al., 2011). That being said, an after-school nutrition program targeted towards elementary aged students in Montgomery County, MD, with at least a 50% FARMs rate would be a proactive measure to prevent and address childhood obesity.<\/p>\n

In Montgomery County, 38.9% of elementary school students received free or reduced price meals, equating to a total of at least 29,748 children (Montgomery County Public Schools, 2020). This statistic is used as an indicator of food insecurity amongst children. Additionally, 33.9% of elementary school children in the county identify as Hispanic or Latino (Montgomery County Public Schools, 2020). Given the national statistics, thousands of the children attending Montgomery County public elementary schools that are experiencing food insecurity are likely also obese. Childhood obesity can have long term health implications, such as increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in adulthood, and is therefore important to address early on (Weihrauch-Bl\u00fcher & Wiegand, 2018). \u00a0Research suggests that nutrition education programming can not only help to increase food security status, but is also a proven strategy to reduce the risk of obesity in children (Farrell, 2013; Epstein et al., 2001).<\/p>\n

This proposed program will take the form of a one-to-two hour after school program, once per week, where students will participate in nutrition education lessons, learn culinary skills, and prepare simple, healthy snacks with their peers. The curriculum will focus on decreasing sugar intake and increasing fruit and vegetable consumption amongst the target audience, with consideration for the cultural backgrounds and food access challenges that their families may have, and by addressing the individual, interpersonal, and organizational levels of influence. The programming will promote food and nutrition knowledge and positive attitudes towards fruits and vegetables amongst participants, as well as basic food preparation skills to make healthy snacks independently with affordable and recognizable ingredients. The program will also integrate learning opportunities related to the weekly school breakfast and lunch menu, recognizing that many of the students receive free and reduced-priced meals at school.<\/p>\n

Data suggests that healthy dietary habits, including adequate fruit and vegetable consumption, correlates with improved academic achievement amongst students (Burrows et al., 2017). This program will help to enhance academic outcomes and performance in elementary schools throughout the county, cultivating a more successful student body with more diversified learning experiences. The findings of the Montgomery County Food Literacy Assessment, published in 2019, suggests that there are significant gaps in local food education programming, including a lack of multilingual and culturally competent programming, limited accessibility to programs and resources, and limited training opportunities (\u201cFood Literacy Assessment Report,\u201d 2019). This program will help to fill that gap for elementary-aged students. The programming will be data driven, using best practices gleaned from existing programs such as the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and the Food Supplement Nutrition Education Program (\u201cFood Literacy Assessment Report,\u201d 2019).\u00a0 This program will be a critical tool to support healthier outcomes and expand nutrition education to elementary school students, and will undoubtedly be successful.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

References<\/em><\/p>\n

Burrows, T., Hutchesson, M., Whatnall, M., & Patterson, A. (2017). Associations between Dietary Intake and Academic Achievement in College Students: A Systematic Review. Healthcare<\/em>, 5<\/em>(4), 60. doi: 10.3390\/healthcare5040060<\/p>\n

Childhood Obesity Facts. (2021). Retrieved 19 January 2021, from https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/obesity\/data\/childhood.html#:~:text=Prevalence%20of%20Childhood%20Obesity%20in%20the%20United%20States&text=The%20prevalence%20of%20obesity%20was,to%2019%2Dyear%2Dolds<\/a><\/p>\n

Epstein, L., Gordy, C., Raynor, H., Beddome, M., Kilanowski, C., Paluch, R. (2001). Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Decreasing Fat and Sugar Intake in Families at Risk for Childhood Obesity. Obesity Research, 9<\/em>(3). Retrieved from http:\/\/maca.pt\/Sites\/maca\/Documentos\/Epstein_LH_et_al_2001-increasing-fruit-and-vegetable-intake.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Farrell, Jamie A., “The Impact Of Nutrition Education On Food Security Status And Food-related Behaviors” (2013). Masters Theses 1911 – February 2014. 1036. Retrieved from https:\/\/scholarworks.umass.edu\/theses\/1036<\/a><\/p>\n

Food Literacy Assessment Report. (2019). Retrieved 16 March 2021 from https:\/\/mocofoodcouncil.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Food-Literacy-Assessment-Report-July-11-2019.pdf<\/p>\n

Gillis, L., & Bar-Or, O. (2003). Food Away from Home, Sugar-Sweetened Drink Consumption and Juvenile Obesity. Journal Of The American College Of Nutrition<\/em>, 22<\/em>(6), 539-545. doi: 10.1080\/07315724.2003.10719333<\/p>\n

Montgomery County Public Schools. (2020). Summary- County Elementary Schools<\/em>. Retrieved from https:\/\/www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org\/departments\/regulatoryaccountability\/glance\/currentyear\/schools\/elementary.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

National School Lunch Program. (2020). Retrieved 16 March 2021, from https:\/\/www.ers.usda.gov\/topics\/food-nutrition-assistance\/child-nutrition-programs\/national-school-lunch-program<\/a><\/p>\n

Sandoval, C., Nigg, C., Titchenal, C.A. (2011). The Impact of an Elementary After-School Nutrition and Physical Activity Program on Children’s Fruit and Vegetable Intake, Physical Activity, and Body Mass Index: Fun 5. Hawai\u2019i Medical Journal, 70<\/em>(7), 37-41.<\/p>\n

Suglia, S., Duarte, C., Chambers, E., & Boynton-Jarrett, R. (2013). Social and Behavioral Risk Factors for Obesity in Early Childhood. Journal Of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics<\/em>, 34<\/em>(8), 549-556. doi: 10.1097\/dbp.0b013e3182a509c0<\/p>\n

Weihrauch-Bl\u00fcher, S., Wiegand, S. (2018). Risk Factors and Implications of Childhood Obesity. Curr Obes Rep<\/em> 7, 254\u2013259. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s13679-018-0320-0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The CDC reports that approximately 18.4% of children between the ages of 6 and 11 are obese, while 25.8% of Hispanic children are considered obese (\u201cChildhood Obesity Facts,\u201d 2021). The USDA spends an estimated $14.1 billion per year to support school-based child nutrition programs such as free and reduced-price meals (FARMS) (\u201cNational School Lunch Program,\u201d…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3606,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-40","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3606"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":29,"date":"2021-04-12T16:12:03","date_gmt":"2021-04-12T16:12:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/?page_id=29"},"modified":"2021-04-14T15:52:23","modified_gmt":"2021-04-14T15:52:23","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"

The “Healthy After Hours” program promotes healthy dietary behaviors amongst elementary schoolers through hands-on nutrition education programming, to cultivate strong, successful bodies and minds. This program will run for eight weeks, with one two-hour after school session each week. Nutrition educators trained in child nutrition will lead a mini-lecture covering basic nutrition principles for the first half of each lesson, followed by guided basic culinary skills training and taste testing in the latter half of each lesson. Program enrollment will be targeted to students that participate in the school’s free-and-reduced-price meals (FARMs) program, as diet-related health issues such as obesity and type II diabetes are most common amongst children experiencing food insecurity at home.<\/p>\n

Take-home materials will be provided to students after each lesson, and students will be encouraged to share the information with their parents as well. Participants’ understanding and progress will be measured through weekly worksheets, a pre- and post-program food frequency questionnaire, and a final survey, as well as a six month and one year post-program follow up. The goal of this program is to increase fruit and vegetable consumption amongst program participants, to increase healthy eating behaviors in an away-from-the-home setting, and support their ability to prepare healthy snacks and meals independently. As a result, students will experience better health outcomes and continue making healthy decisions beyond the program period.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reflection: The “About” section summarizes the program strategies and objectives, laying out the expectations and goals for the program. It includes a description of the growth that participants will experience over the course of the program as well as expectations for long-term behavior maintenance and ongoing learning and growth.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The “Healthy After Hours” program promotes healthy dietary behaviors amongst elementary schoolers through hands-on nutrition education programming, to cultivate strong, successful bodies and minds. This program will run for eight weeks, with one two-hour after school session each week. Nutrition educators trained in child nutrition will lead a mini-lecture covering basic nutrition principles for the…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3606,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-29","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3606"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":15,"date":"2021-04-12T16:02:03","date_gmt":"2021-04-12T16:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/?page_id=15"},"modified":"2021-04-22T21:17:12","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T21:17:12","slug":"process-evaluation-plan","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/process-evaluation-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Evaluation Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Target of Question<\/strong><\/td>\nProcess- Evaluation Question<\/strong><\/td>\nMethod of Assessment for Question<\/strong><\/td>\nResources Required<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Recruitment<\/td>\nHow many elementary aged students in the Montgomery County Public School system will participate in the nutrition education program?<\/td>\nDirect reporting from nutrition educator<\/td>\nList of participating students based on registration forms.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reach<\/td>\nDid all participating students submit each of the weekly worksheets, the pre- and post- program food frequency questionnaires, and the final survey?*<\/td>\nNutrition Educator will keep and maintain a spreadsheet to track participant submissions<\/td>\nEight worksheets, pre-and post-program food frequency questionnaires, final survey to be developed by nutrition educators based on program content. Spreadsheet with participant names and columns to track receipt of each required submission (eight worksheets, two food frequency questionnaires, one survey) for evaluation purposes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fidelity<\/td>\nHow closely did the nutrition educators follow the nutrition education program plans, to lead eight, two hour lessons, with one hour of \u201cmini-lecture\u201d and one hour of hands-on food preparation skills training followed by taste testing, over the course of the program?*<\/td>\nSurvey<\/td>\nMini-lecture slides, food preparation tools (cutting boards, utensils, mixing bowl and spoons, etc.) for each participant, and a final survey developed by nutrition educators to distribute.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Context<\/td>\nHow useful was a school-based nutrition education program in addressing healthy at-school or away-from-home eating behaviors?*<\/td>\nFood Frequency Questionnaire<\/td>\nFood Frequency Questionnaires that are age-appropriate and comprehensive; one for pre-program baseline data collection and one for post-program comparison and analysis.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dose Delivered<\/td>\nHow many lessons were presented total, over the course of the eight weeks, between all participating schools?<\/td>\nDirect reporting from nutrition educator<\/td>\nTracking spreadsheet to track the number of lessons presented at each site.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dose Received<\/td>\nHow many of the participating students indicated, through the post-program survey and food frequency questionnaire, that they have consumed more fruits and vegetables as a result of participating in the program?*<\/td>\nSurvey and food frequency questionnaire<\/td>\nFood Frequency Questionnaires that are age-appropriate and comprehensive; one for pre-program baseline data collection and one for post-program comparison and analysis. Final survey developed by nutrition educators to distribute.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

*The responses to this question will be most important to understand the impact of the program.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Target of Question Process- Evaluation Question Method of Assessment for Question Resources Required Recruitment How many elementary aged students in the Montgomery County Public School system will participate in the nutrition education program? Direct reporting from nutrition educator List of participating students based on registration forms. Reach Did all participating students submit each of…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3606,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3606"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":14,"date":"2021-04-12T16:02:03","date_gmt":"2021-04-12T16:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/?page_id=14"},"modified":"2021-04-22T21:16:56","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T21:16:56","slug":"program-strategies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/healthyafterhours\/program-strategies\/","title":{"rendered":"Strategies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nutrition education presented in an afterschool, classroom setting, which will include a one-hour mini-lecture followed by a one-hour hands-on meal preparation and skills training in each lesson. Nutrition educators will present one, two-hour lesson per week, over an eight week period, for a total of eight sessions and 16 hours of instruction.<\/p>\n