Assessing the Food Behaviors of Recently Resettled Refugee Families to Better Tailor the EFNEP Intervention

Abstract

ObjectiveTo adapt EFNEP's lesson plans, activities, and recipes for more effective and culturally appropriate programming with recently resettled refugee families living in Prince George's County.Target AudienceLimited-resource refugee families enrolled in EFNEP.Theory, Prior Research, RationaleSocial Cognitive Theory.DescriptionMaryland Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and the Ethiopian Community Development Council, Inc. (ECDC) have partnered to pilot a 6-week series of nutrition classes specifically tailored for refugees. To ensure the nutrition lessons and recipes are culturally appropriate, EFNEP has worked closely with ECDC to learn about each group's eating patterns, shopping habits, and cultural context of eating.EvaluationEFNEP's standard evaluation at pre- and post-intervention (a behavioral checklist and a 24-hour food recall) is being used to collect data about each group's nutrition practices. An interview guide has been developed to conduct mini focus groups during each workshop to assess food preferences and shopping habits.Conclusions and ImplicationsPreliminary findings from a couple series show that families: 1) have adapted to eating a variety of fruits and vegetables available at the grocery stores, showing some form of food acculturation in a very short timeframe; 2) purchase food for groups of families, indicating an effective strategy for food resource management; and 3) need additional information about the grocery stores to help them better plan meals for their families within their built environment. The goal is to extend the EFNEP series of nutrition classes to other groups of refugees, to adapt the nutrition lessons/materials for new immigrants, and to continue defining the process for working with new cultural groups.FundingExpanded Food and Nutrition Education Program ObjectiveTo adapt EFNEP's lesson plans, activities, and recipes for more effective and culturally appropriate programming with recently resettled refugee families living in Prince George's County. To adapt EFNEP's lesson plans, activities, and recipes for more effective and culturally appropriate programming with recently resettled refugee families living in Prince George's County. Target AudienceLimited-resource refugee families enrolled in EFNEP. Limited-resource refugee families enrolled in EFNEP. Theory, Prior Research, RationaleSocial Cognitive Theory. Social Cognitive Theory. DescriptionMaryland Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and the Ethiopian Community Development Council, Inc. (ECDC) have partnered to pilot a 6-week series of nutrition classes specifically tailored for refugees. To ensure the nutrition lessons and recipes are culturally appropriate, EFNEP has worked closely with ECDC to learn about each group's eating patterns, shopping habits, and cultural context of eating. Maryland Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and the Ethiopian Community Development Council, Inc. (ECDC) have partnered to pilot a 6-week series of nutrition classes specifically tailored for refugees. To ensure the nutrition lessons and recipes are culturally appropriate, EFNEP has worked closely with ECDC to learn about each group's eating patterns, shopping habits, and cultural context of eating. EvaluationEFNEP's standard evaluation at pre- and post-intervention (a behavioral checklist and a 24-hour food recall) is being used to collect data about each group's nutrition practices. An interview guide has been developed to conduct mini focus groups during each workshop to assess food preferences and shopping habits. EFNEP's standard evaluation at pre- and post-intervention (a behavioral checklist and a 24-hour food recall) is being used to collect data about each group's nutrition practices. An interview guide has been developed to conduct mini focus groups during each workshop to assess food preferences and shopping habits. Conclusions and ImplicationsPreliminary findings from a couple series show that families: 1) have adapted to eating a variety of fruits and vegetables available at the grocery stores, showing some form of food acculturation in a very short timeframe; 2) purchase food for groups of families, indicating an effective strategy for food resource management; and 3) need additional information about the grocery stores to help them better plan meals for their families within their built environment. The goal is to extend the EFNEP series of nutrition classes to other groups of refugees, to adapt the nutrition lessons/materials for new immigrants, and to continue defining the process for working with new cultural groups. Preliminary findings from a couple series show that families: 1) have adapted to eating a variety of fruits and vegetables available at the grocery stores, showing some form of food acculturation in a very short timeframe; 2) purchase food for groups of families, indicating an effective strategy for food resource management; and 3) need additional information about the grocery stores to help them better plan meals for their families within their built environment. The goal is to extend the EFNEP series of nutrition classes to other groups of refugees, to adapt the nutrition lessons/materials for new immigrants, and to continue defining the process for working with new cultural groups.