Teaching Healthful Food Choices to Elementary School Students and Their Parents: The Nutrition Detectives™ Program^*

Corresponding Author

David L. Katz MD, MPH

Director, ( [email protected] ), Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center; Co-Developer, Nutrition Detectives Program, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418; and the Yale University School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT, 06510.

David L. Katz, ([email protected]), Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418.Search for more papers by this author

Catherine S. Katz PhD,

Catherine S. Katz PhD

Co-Developer, Nutrition Detectives Program, ( [email protected] ), Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418.

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Judith A. Treu MS, RD,

Judith A. Treu MS, RD

Research Associate, ( [email protected] ), Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418.

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Jesse Reynolds MS,

Jesse Reynolds MS

Data Analyst, ( [email protected] ), Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418.

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Valentine Njike MD, MPH,

Valentine Njike MD, MPH

Assistant Director, ( [email protected] ), Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418.

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Jennifer Walker MEd,

Jennifer Walker MEd

Director of Youth Development, ( [email protected] ), Independence School District, 218 North Pleasant, Independence, MO 64050.

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Erica Smith BS,

Erica Smith BS

Assistant Director of Youth and Resource Development, ( [email protected] ), Independence School District, 218 North Pleasant, Independence, MO 64050.

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Jennifer Michael MD,

Jennifer Michael MD

Resident Physician and Research Assistant, ( [email protected] ), Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418.

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David L. Katz MD, MPH,

Corresponding Author

David L. Katz MD, MPH

David L. Katz, ([email protected]), Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418.Search for more papers by this author

Catherine S. Katz PhD,

Catherine S. Katz PhD

Co-Developer, Nutrition Detectives Program, ( [email protected] ), Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418.

Search for more papers by this author

Judith A. Treu MS, RD,

Judith A. Treu MS, RD

Research Associate, ( [email protected] ), Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418.

Search for more papers by this author

Jesse Reynolds MS,

Jesse Reynolds MS

Data Analyst, ( [email protected] ), Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418.

Search for more papers by this author

Valentine Njike MD, MPH,

Valentine Njike MD, MPH

Assistant Director, ( [email protected] ), Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418.

Search for more papers by this author

Jennifer Walker MEd,

Jennifer Walker MEd

Director of Youth Development, ( [email protected] ), Independence School District, 218 North Pleasant, Independence, MO 64050.

Search for more papers by this author

Erica Smith BS,

Erica Smith BS

Assistant Director of Youth and Resource Development, ( [email protected] ), Independence School District, 218 North Pleasant, Independence, MO 64050.

Search for more papers by this author

Jennifer Michael MD,

Jennifer Michael MD

Resident Physician and Research Assistant, ( [email protected] ), Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418.

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 15 December 2010

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2010.00553.x

Citations: 76

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a nutrition education program designed to teach elementary school students and their parents, and to distinguish between more healthful and less healthful choices in diverse food categories.

METHODS: Three schools were assigned to receive the Nutrition Detectives™ program and 2 comparable schools served as controls. A total of 1180 second, third, and fourth grade elementary school students were included, with 628 students in the intervention and 552 in the control group. The program, delivered by physical education instructors over several sessions totaling less than 2 hours, taught the children how to read food labels and detect marketing deceptions, while learning to identify and choose healthful foods. Parents were introduced to the program through written materials sent home and at school functions. Assessments included a food label quiz, dietary pattern, and body mass index (BMI).

RESULTS: Students in intervention schools showed a significant increase in nutrition label literacy (p < .01). Third grade students showed the most improvement, 23% (p < .01). The parents of intervention group students also showed a significant increase in nutrition label literacy by 8% (p < .01). Total caloric, sodium, and total sugar intake decreased nonsignificantly among students in the intervention group (p > .05). BMI did not change over the short duration of the study.

CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition Detectives effectively enhances the ability of students and their parents to identify more nutritious food choices. Further evaluation of the program and its potential to influence dietary pattern, BMI, and health outcomes in students and their families is warranted.

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