Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 15, 2026

'Boden Food Plate': Novel Interactive Web-based Method for the Assessment of Dietary Intake
Published on: September 18, 2018
An Experiential Cooking and Nutrition Education Program Increases Cooking Self-Efficacy and Vegetable Consumption in
Elizabeth Jarpe-Ratner1, Stephanie Folkens2, Sonika Sharma2
1School of Public Health, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL.
Objective:
Evaluate the effect of a community-based, experiential cooking and nutrition education program on consumption of fruits and vegetables and associated intermediate outcomes in students from low-income families.
Design:
Quasi-experimental program evaluation by pre-post survey of participating students and their parents.
Setting:
Underserved elementary and middle schools in Chicago.
Participants:
Students (n = 271; 65% girls, 44% Hispanic, 32% African American; 94% eligible for free/reduced price lunch) in grades 3-8 selected by school staff to participate by variable inclusion criteria. 59% of students who applied returned both pre- and post-surveys.
Intervention(S):
Ten-week (2 h/wk) chef-instructor-led program held in cafeteria kitchens after school.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Changes in student nutrition knowledge, cooking self-efficacy, fruit and vegetable liking and consumption, and communication to family about healthy eating.
Analysis:
Changes from beginning to end of program were analyzed with paired t test. Results were considered significant at P < .05.
Results:
Increased nutrition knowledge score from 0.6 to 0.8, cooking self-efficacy score from 3.2 to 3.6, and vegetable consumption score from 2.2 to 2.4 (all P < .05). Increased score for communication about healthy eating (4.1 to 4.4; P < .05) 6 months after the end of the course.
Conclusions And Implications:
Experiential cooking and nutrition education programs led by chef-instructors may be effective ways to improve nutrition in low-income communities.
Related Concept Videos
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Dietary Connections
Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:
Self-Efficacy
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...

