Structured Food Experiences: A Preliminary Evaluation of the WISE Curriculum

Abstract

Objective: This poster will present the preliminary evaluation findings of a food experience curriculum designed to increase children interactions with target fruits and vegetables. Study Design, Setting and Participants, and Intervention: Educators in 10 classrooms at 3 Head Start centers lead weekly food experiences designed to maximize child hands-on interaction with target foods. Parents receive regular Facebook updates and monthly delivery of paper materials. Data presented represent evaluation after 2 months of implementation. All parents were invited to participate in evaluation activities; 61 completed both baseline and midpoint assessments. Outcome, Measures and Analysis: Parents reported on 4 elements: (a) child consumption of target foods (DV), (b) parenting practices around fruits and vegetables (DV), (c) exposure to WISE Facebook (IV), and (d) child-to-home message of WISE information (IV). Scales with alpha from .62 to .85 assessed each construct. Two hierarchical regression analyses were conducted predicting the DVs at midpoint controlling for baseline levels. Results: Child-to-home significantly predicted child consumption of the target foods at midpoint, b 1⁄4 .30, t(59) 1⁄4 2.45, p 1⁄4.02. The set of predictors accounted for a significant portion of variance in child intake beyond baseline levels, R 1⁄4 .22, p 1⁄4 .002; Rchange 1⁄4 .10, p 1⁄4.03. Similarly, the child-to-home message of WISE significantly predicted fruit and vegetable parenting practices at midpoint [b 1⁄4 .26, t(59) 1⁄4 2.14, p 1⁄4.04], and a significant portion of parenting variance was explained beyond baseline levels [R 1⁄4 .28, p <.001; Rchange 1⁄4 .11, p 1⁄4.02]. Conclusions and Implications: These data suggest that school-based food experiences with a parent outreach component can impact young children's diets at home. Funding: USDA