Recipient Organization
UNIV OF MARYLAND
(N/A)
COLLEGE PARK,MD 20742
Performing Department
Family & Consumer Sciences
Non Technical Summary
The USDA FNS recently published the Core Nutrition Messages for Preschool Children (FNS, 2008), which includes seven key nutrition messages for parents of children ages 2-5. These messages were based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and developed using focus group testing with low-income mothers. The messages cover three broad topics: role modeling, cooking and eating together, and the division of feeding responsibility. In addition to the messages, FNS published supporting content, including tips, recipes, methods of message delivery, and other ideas to help nutrition educators integrate the new messages into existing programs. Yet, a curriculum uniquely focused on communicating these messages to parents of preschool children has not been developed and tested for effectiveness in improving parental feeding practices and child nutrition, and ultimately, preventing childhood obesity. Using the theory of planned behavior as a guide, an educational program for parents of preschoolers may be able to shift attitudes and norms around parental feeding. If parents can generate and gain the tools necessary to use appropriate parental feeding approaches, their perception of the role they play in children's eating and in obesity prevention can help them make and sustain positive changes. Such a program would be learner-centered and dialogue-based to improve parents' efficacy, skills, and motivations to optimize feeding opportunities.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
100%
Goals / Objectives
The long-term goal of the proposed conference is to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity through the development of a nutrition education curriculum for low-income parents of preschool-aged children. Project objectives are to: 1) convene a meeting of researchers with expertise in parental feeding practices, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service Core Nutrition Messages for Preschool Children, childhood obesity, and Extension program planning and evaluation; 2) share current research addressing these topic areas via keynote speakers and conference collaborators' research updates; 3) identify opportunities for curriculum development and extension programming that connect the Core Messages to current research on parental feeding; and 4) plan a multi-state, collaborative workgroup to execute a curriculum development and pilot evaluation project that addresses both gaps in knowledge and the need to integrate principles of parental feeding with Core Nutrition Messages in an educational program for the parents of preschool children.
Project Methods
Activities. The conference advisory committee (see methods) will be comprised of at least one representative from each participating mid-Atlantic state. Three keynote speakers, Jennifer Orlet Fisher, Sheryl Hughes, and Maureen Black, and several participants will share research updates in the areas of parental feeding practices and obesity prevention among preschool children. Conference participants will participate in several joint and breakout sessions to identify opportunities for program development that flow from research findings and gaps. Conference participants will plan next steps for a collaborative work group to address the groundwork needed to start a curriculum development and pilot testing effort. Methods. In order to convene the proposed conference of researchers, a conference advisory committee has been formed. The committee consists of representatives from partner institutions with interest and capacity in pursuing follow-up activities based upon the outcomes of the conference. Proposed Participants: Faculty researchers, Extension specialists, and Extension educators conducting research or programs that address nutrition for preschool-aged children, parents of preschool-aged children, parental feeding practices, or Core Nutrition Messages will be encouraged to participate. Conference Format: After hearing research updates from keynote speakers in a traditional lecture-based and question-and-answer format, conference participants will spend time in discussions and brainstorming sessions in small and large groups. An interactive, open exchange of ideas will facilitate the development of a work group that capitalizes on various members' strengths and interests and actively engages members in the development of a subsequent project. After the conference, up to three web conferences will be held to begin to follow through on the plan of work generated at the conference. Expected Outcomes. It is expected that approximately 50 scientists and Extension professionals will attend the proposed conference. Additionally, the group of attendees will 1) disseminate a white paper summarizing the gaps and opportunities in research and programming identified during the conference, 2) form a working group, and 3) generate a plan to develop and pilot test a curriculum to address the identified opportunities. Evaluation and Dissemination. In order to evaluate the success of the conference in meeting the objectives, process data will be collected. The number of people attending the conference, as well as the number of participants and institutions agreeing to participate in the work group will be counted. Conference participants will also complete a survey at the end of the conference to share reactions to the conference and the generated plans. The white paper will be disseminated among conference participants and using the same channels through which the conference itself will be publicized. The plan of work will also be disseminated among conference participants agreeing to participate in the work group.