P15: Show Me Nutrition Education Displays

Abstract

Objective: Show Me Nutrition Education Displays reach teachers who take nutrition information from the displays into the classroom. Display information supports local school wellness policies. Use of Theory or Research: People may be in various stages of change readiness. Displays expose teachers to messages with the goal of moving them along the continuum to behavior change. (Stages of change model). Target Audience: The target audience is elementary teachers who take the information into the classroom and share with their students or model behaviors for students. Description: The displays are full color bulletin board displays for teachers. They include handouts, references and Points to Ponder information to use with students. Topics include MyPyramid, MyActivity Pyramid, Whole Grains, Snacking, and Healthy Celebrations. Displays are accessed at http://extension.missouri.edu/fnep/nutritiondisplays/index. htm. Evaluation: End-of-school year evaluation addresses effectiveness of displays, use of Points to Ponder in the classroom, teacher willingness to increase nutrition education and change in teacher health behaviors. Change in teacher health behaviors is used as a proxy for determining the extent that teachers are modeling these behaviors in the classroom. Pilot data from 2007 evaluations indicate teachers plan to increase nutrition education (47% of 906 respondents) and change personal health behaviors (73% of 888 respondents). Conclusions and Implications: The displays support school staff in making healthy lifestyle choices and have been incorporated into school wellness policies in several districts in the state. Successful pilot project has been expanded for statewide use with projected production of 300 displays and 11,500 handouts to be distributed. This project is funded in part by USDA’s Food Stamp Program.