A university--school collaboration to enhance healthy choices among children. Journal Article

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Authors: Suarez-Balcazar, Y; Kouba, J; Jones, LM; Lukyanova, VV
Article Title: A university--school collaboration to enhance healthy choices among children.
Abstract: One factor contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic is easy access to foods with high fat content available in public schools. After several years of advocacy efforts conducted by a city-wide coalition, the public schools system in an urban Midwestern city introduced fresh salad bars for lunch in three schools. Researchers have argued, however, that the introduction of salad bars in schools, without nutrition education, is not enough to produce changes in eating patterns. In this study, researchers used a target and control school to evaluate the impact of a 5-month nutrition education program. The results indicated that once the nutrition education program was implemented, the number of children consuming salad entrees and salad items doubled and quadrupled respectively, and knowledge about fruits and vegetables increased. Implications for community researchers interested in addressing childhood obesity are discussed.
Journal Title: Journal of Prevention Intervention in the Community
ISSN: 1085-2352
Publisher: Unknown  
Date Published: 2014