KA 703. Nutrition Education and Behavior

ICAN
Santa Fe County has both a Youth and Adult Ideas for Cooking and Nutrition Program (ICAN) which is nationally referred to as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP ED). The primary goal of the ICAN program is to provide individuals with limited resources educational programs that increase the likelihood of all participants making healthy food choices consistent with the most recent dietary advice as reflected in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the MyPyramid/MyPlate guidelines.

Our educational efforts do change nutrition behavior, see highlights from Adult Surveys:
-59% of participants showed improvement in paying attention to portion sizes
-58% of participants showed improvement in eating 4 cups or more of fruits and vegetables each day
-54% of participants showed improvement in drinking at least 3 cups of dairy each day
-53% of participants showed improvement in use of nutrition labels
-51% of participants showed improvement in eating more than 3oz. of whole grains each day
-46% of participants showed improvement in doing at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day
-45% of participants showed improvement in eating fruits and vegetables as snacks
-41% of participants showed improvement in preparation of healthy meals
-38% of participants showed improvement in involving child in meal preparation
-36% of participants showed improvement in purchasing healthy items
-33% of participants showed improvement in comparing prices when shopping for food
-33% of participants showed improvement in drinking less than 1 cup of sugary beverages
-30% of participants showed improvement in eating breakfast
-28% of participants showed improvement in watching less than 2 hours of TV per day
-27% of participants showed improvement in drinking water when thirsty
-21% of participants showed improvement in eating meals together at home

See highlights for Youth Surveys:

-85% Improvement in knowledge of the relationship between physical activity and good health.
-35% Improvement in knowledge of hand washing and food safety.
-25% Improvement in knowledge of how much to eat of the MyPyramid food groups (Grain, Vegetables, Fruits, Milk, and Meat and Beans).
-23% Improvement in knowledge of where energy or calories come from (carbohydrates, fat and protein).
-15% Improvement in knowledge of the relationship between calcium and bone health and the importance of consuming milk products that are an excellent source of calcium.

Ideas for Cooking and Nutrition- Bernalillo County ICAN program
In February 2011 the ICAN Home Economist in Bernalillo County retired. The Home Economist took on the duties of the ICAN program, supervising and instructing 9 ICAN educators until a replacement was hired and began working in mid-July. Weekly meeting and trainings as well as personal instruction were shared with the ICAN educators. Some of the training topics were; cooking with herbs and spices, updates on food safety topics, using whole grains and safe food preservation practices. When the new ICAN Home Economist began the Home Economist spent many days helping her learn the job and making the transition. In August of 2010 the two Home Economists worked together to hire an additional two ICAN educators bringing that number to 11.

Cooking Solo
There is a need among single and widowed seniors for information on cooking for one person. This year the Home Economist developed this one or two hour program which is titled “Cooking Solo”. There have been several requests for such a program and the Home Economist has presented Cooking Solo many times this year at senior centers, garden clubs and church groups. In addition to tips on cooking for one the class has a strong emphasis on food safety.

Super Fit Family Challenge
The Super Fit Family Challenge is a collaborative effort in Albuquerque with the nutrition education team from the Albuquerque Public Schools, The Seventh Day Adventist Church in Albuquerque and University of New Mexico pediatrics and dietitians working on childhood obesity issues, Albuquerque Community Centers and Bernalillo County Cooperative Extension urban 4H and Home Economics. The 8 week evening program is designed to reach families with children who are at risk of becoming or are obese with a message of healthy eating and activity for the entire family. The Home Economist has been a part of this effort since it began here in 2008. The Home Economist has taught a portion of the classes during the fall of 2010 at the Martinez Town Community Center with 11 families participating in the program and in the Spring of 2011 in the International District with 7 families participating. The Home Economist provided lessons for the parents; Feeding your Family Healthy on a Budget and Meal Planning.

Healthy New Mexico Cuisine
In January of 2011 an article came out in the Albuquerque Journal about the NMSU Kitchen Creation Program without publishing who the class was actually for, diabetics in Bernalillo County. Because of the number of phone calls received asking if they could come to this “free” cooking school the home economist decided to offer a Healthy New Mexico Cuisine class. This 4 hour class covered basic information of making a recipe healthier, then using recipes from the NMSU (Kitchen Creation) New Mexico Recipes Book we prepared several of the recipes. Home Economists from surrounding counties came and participated in the class as well. They have or will be offering Healthy New Mexico Cuisine in their counties. The class was very well attended and evaluations were positive.