What is the minimal nutrition education dosage to achieve behavior change for SNAP‐Ed participants?

Abstract

SNAP‐Ed increases the ability of low‐income families to make healthy food choices with the long‐term objective of preventing diet‐related diseases through nutrition education. As a national program, SNAP‐Ed needs to make the best use of its available resources. The dosage of nutrition education lessons needed to achieve measurable behavior change is unknown. This study aims to define the minimum nutrition education dosage needed to achieve measurable behavior change in SNAP‐Ed participants. Self‐reported (n=28) degrees of behavior change on four indicators on fruits and vegetables consumption were measured using the Ohio SNAP‐Ed Fruit and Vegetable Retrospective Questionnaire at four time points (baseline, after 1 lesson, after 3 lessons, and after 6 lessons). Univariate repeated measures ANOVA showed a positive and significant dosage effect from 1 lesson to 6 lessons on “eating fruits and vegetables of different colors each day” (p ≤ 0.011); “eating more than one kind of fruit each day” (p ≤ 0.003); and “eating fruits and vegetables as snacks” (p ≤ 0.008). The effect of dosage for “eating more than one kind of vegetable each day” approached significance (p ≤ 0.077). These findings indicate that more lessons on fruits and vegetables consumption leads to greater behavior change in up to six lessons. At this point we are unable to identify a ceiling beyond 6 lessons.