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Program
Evaluation
Building
a healthy me! Stacking up choices for good nutrition.
Evaluation
Summary
Overview
In the 2000-2001 school year, the Dairy Council of California conducted
a summative evaluation of their Kindergarten nutrition program-
Building a healthy me! Stacking up choices for good nutrition.
This school-based nutrition program targets kindergarten-age children
and their parents.
Evaluation
validated the initial testing that the program achieves its desired
outcomes. The program positively impacted student nutrition knowledge,
attitudes and behaviors. Educators learned more about nutrition
and many worked to improve their food choices. Parents increased
their nutrition knowledge through their children. And teachers who
encouraged dialogue at home and sent nutrition materials home to
parents fostered better parent outcomes. Specific program outcomes
are below.
Kindergarten Students
Make Healthy Choices!
Our summative evaluation found that the Kindergarteners
that used this program improved their knowledge, enhanced their
attitude, and positively impacted behavior change. Following are
the details.
Improved their Knowledge:
- Understood that the Food Guide Pyramid helps
them make healthy food choices
- Named foods in each group at home and in
the classroom
- Talked about the food groups at home
- Sang songs about the food groups at home
Enhanced their Attitude:
- Improved their attitude towards breakfast
- More willing to try new foods
- Greater interest in cooking
Positively Impacted Behavior:
- More child participation in meal planning
and preparation
- Increase in fruit consumption
- Decrease in Extra foods (sweets, fats and
oils)
- Requested healthy snacks
- Asked for breakfast more often
- Talked with parents about nutrition
Parents Take Time
to Read Nutrition Booklets!
The Home Connection booklet and the
newsletters were read by over 80 percent of parents, supporting
the information students shared in the home. The Food Guide Pyramid
from the booklet was used by 72 percent of parents. The Home Connection
booklet and newsletters reinforced the program's nutrition concepts.
Teachers
Learn Too!
Teacher nutrition knowledge improved
significantly over the control group after teaching the lessons.
Teachers also reported they plan to make better food choices:
- "This really helped me to be conscious
of my own eating. Limit[ing] extras and eating fruit are my goals."
- "I'm more aware of eating healthier
foods and how it affects us."
To read the complete summative executive
summary click here.
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