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KA 703. Nutrition Education and Behavior (Doña Ana County)

Plan Goal

Improve the health of Doña Ana County residents through education in healthy food choices, food preparation skills and food resource management practices

Situation Statement

Good nutrition is essential to improve and maintain health. Five of the leading causes of death in Doña Ana County include heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and hypertension, which have links to diet (NM Vital Records & Health Statistics, 2004). Obesity and overweight now affects 57% of New Mexico adults. These individuals are at increased risk of illness from hypertension, lipid disorders, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and certain cancers.

Doña Ana County also has a very high rate of poverty with 21.7% of families living below the poverty level (US Bureau of the Census, 2000) and approximately 35.1% of children under 18 years of age living in poverty (2004 NM Vital Records & Health Statistics). Low income populations face numerous problems associated with inadequate nutrition. In some cases, children do not eat enough to sustain health and to grow and develop at optimal levels. Even more commonly, individuals make poor food choices, which can lead to chronic disease problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Although benefits such as Food Stamps and WIC provide vital resources to some of those in need of food assistance, this resource is often not maximized. This is often due to recipients’ lack of knowledge of the relationships between health and four areas: basic nutrition, food safety, food preparation, and food resource management. In addition, many limited-resource individuals do not receive the encouragement and reinforcement needed to put such knowledge into practice. Education can help low income families and individuals maximize their resources to improve their nutritional status.

Diabetes:
According to the New Mexico Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Records & Health Statistics, in 2004 there were 13,192 adults in Doña Ana County with diabetes, at a rate of 9.8% which is somewhat higher than the New Mexico rate of 9.2% and significantly higher than the national rate of 7%.

Some of the health consequences related to untreated and uncontrolled diabetes are blindness, amputations, kidney disease, stroke, heart disease and death. Due to the seriousness and the prevalence of this chronic disease, the Doña Ana County Health and Human Services Division has identified Diabetes as a major health concern that needs to be addressed through prevention education as well as by increasing access to health services.

While there is no cure for diabetes, it can be controlled and complications can be prevented or a least delayed through simple changes, such as healthier food choices and by adding regular physical activity. Cooperative Extension can help increase the health and well-being of individuals with diabetes in Doña Ana County by offering Kitchen Creations, a cooking school for people with diabetes and their families. Classes are taught in a team approach by an NMSU County Extension staff person and a local health professional who has a background in diabetes management.

Kitchen Creations teaches healthy food choices and meal planning for people with diabetes. Participants are provided with hands-on opportunities to learn cooking techniques that use new or more healthful ingredients, healthy versions of familiar recipes, which are economical and easy to prepare are presented and new foods are introduced. Behavior changes are encouraged through the preparation of tasty healthy foods.

Key tools for use in nutrition education include USDA’s MyPyramid, Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid, Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2005), and the Nutrition Facts Label.

Target Audience and Actions

TARGET AUDIENCE
Individuals and families in Doña Ana County, particularly limited resources audiences
English and Spanish-speaking residents of Doña Ana County
Agencies that work with Doña Ana County individuals and families
Individuals and families in Doña Ana County who have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes and their family members

ACTIVITIES
Present one-time programs in general nutrition topics such as healthy food choices, food preparation skills, food resource management, food safety and physical activity

Present nutrition and physical activity information at health/information fairs and community events

Coordinate 2-4 Kitchen Creations programs per program year in Las Cruces

Short-Term Objectives

General Nutrition:
80% of participants will plan to use two or more of the following strategies, following their participation in a nutrition program:

• Use MyPyramid, Dietary Guidelines and Nutrition Facts Labels to make food choices and plan meals
• Control portion sizes
• Increase fruit and vegetable consumption
• Increase consumption of whole grains
• Adopt new food preparation and meal planning techniques
• Adopt new food resource management techniques
• Increase physical activity

Kitchen Creations
80% of participants will practice three or more of the following behaviors learned during the Kitchen Creations program:

• Use the Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid to plan a day’s meals
• Measure food portions
• Use the 50/50 method to control the amount of carbohydrates eaten at a meal
• Read food labels to find the amount of carbohydrates in a serving
• Eat at least 2 servings of whole grains per day
• Eat at least 2 servings of non-starchy vegetables at dinner
• Use more herbs and spices to flavor foods instead of salt and fat

Medium-Term Objectives

One-Three months following participation in general nutrition program:
40% of participants will report an increase in one or more of the following behaviors:

• Use MyPyramid, Dietary Guidelines and Nutrition Facts Labels to make food choices and plan meals
• Control portion sizes
• Increase fruit and vegetable consumption
• Increase consumption of whole grains
• Adopt new food preparation and meal planning techniques
• Adopt new food resource management techniques
• Increase physical activity

One-Three months following participation in Kitchen Creations:
40% of participants will report an increase in one or more of the following behaviors:

• Use the Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid to plan a day’s meals
• Measure food portions
• Use the 50/50 method to control the amount of carbohydrates eaten at a meal
• Read food labels to find the amount of carbohydrates in a serving
• Eat at least 2 servings of whole grains per day
• Eat at least 2 servings of non-starchy vegetables at dinner
• Use more herbs and spices to flavor foods instead of salt and fat

Long-Term Objectives

Evaluation Plan

Short-Term: Evaluations will be completed by participants immediately following program participation

Medium-Term: Behavior surveys will be conducted by mail or phone 1-3 months following program participation