P163 - Eat, Smart, Plan, Shop, Save, and Live; All the Best Words are Already Taken: Creating an Online Nutrition Education Curriculum for Idaho

Abstract

Objective: To overcome barriers to in-person class attendance through creation of an online adult nutrition education curriculum and expand the reach of Idaho's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), Eat Smart Idaho. Target Audience: Idaho's adult SNAP-eligible population. Theory, Prior Research, Rationale: Recommended practices from evidenced based studies and similar online curricula and websites serving SNAP eligible audiences guided the project. Design was based on several adult learning theories including the concept of andragogy and adults as self-directed learners; and the need to be motivated internally. Participants provide their own explanation of why they need to learn this material at the beginning of each lesson. Actual graduates from the in-person course explain how the content has helped them. Description: Plan, Shop, and Go—Eat Smart Idaho is more than a slide show. It includes Idaho-specific content, audience centered videos, interactive mini games, knowledge quizzes, an achievement system, and social media activities. The audience is encouraged to actively participate by sharing their experiences, motivations, and recipe ideas. Hosted on eXtension Campus, this 5-lesson curriculum covers food resource management, healthy eating, physical activity, and food safety. Evaluation: Knowledge assessment, intent-to change evaluation, and qualitative feedback on the curriculum content and design are used to determine efficacy and provide direction for continuous improvement. Conclusions and Implications: The online curriculum, Plan, Shop, and Go—Eat Smart Idaho, could help increase the reach of Idaho SNAP-Ed, and provide evidence-based, interactive, and convenient nutrition and physical activity education to limited income Idahoans. Funding: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education.