P189 - UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program Empowering Low-Income Families with Knowledge and Skills About Food Resource Management

Abstract

Objective: To improve food resource management behaviors essential to maximizing use of limited resources, supporting a healthy diet, and improving food security among low-income families. Target Audience: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) eligible/ low-income adults/families in Tulare County, California. Theory, Prior Research, Rationale: The UC CalFresh NEP is guided by the SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework. Description: During the FFY2017, a four-week series-based Plan Shop Save Cook (PSSC) curriculum was administered to UC CalFresh program participants. The program included the following components: plan meals, use a shopping list, understand and use food labels, save money, and cook a meal. Evaluation: A pre-post evaluation was conducted to determine behavioral change in planning meals, use of shopping list, use of food labels, saving money, and cooking a meal. Of the total participants (n = 98) who completed the pre-post survey, majority were Hispanic-Latino (94%) and female (92%). Paired sample t-test analysis indicated statistically significant results for the following behaviors: shop with a list (t (97) = 2.333, P = .022), think about health choices (t (97) = 2.303, P = .023), plan meals (t (97) = 3.790, P = .000), use nutrition facts label (t (97) = 4.519, P = .000), use MyPlate (t (97) = 6.764, P = .000), and all five behaviors (t (97) = 4.619, P = .000). Conclusions and Implications: Through a series of nutrition classes, UC CalFresh NEP improved knowledge and skills of adult participants to plan tasty, cost-effective, and nutritious meals. Findings provide essential insight into behavioral strategies (e.g. shopping with a list, planning meals, reading nutrition facts labels) for communicating food resource management messages to low-income families. Nutrition education professionals can use these food resource management strategies to tailor educational messages for limited resources families. Funding: California SNAP-Ed (UC CalFresh NEP).