The CENTS program: promoting healthy eating by addressing perceived barriers.

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Behavioral Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• College students face significant barriers to healthy eating, including perceived cost and time constraints.
• Poor dietary habits and obesity are prevalent concerns within this demographic.
• Targeted interventions are needed to address these specific challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate mindset change interventions aimed at reducing perceived barriers to healthy eating among college students.
• To assess the impact of these interventions on dietary behaviors, attitudes, and self-efficacy.
• To investigate the effectiveness of the CENTS (Cost of Eating Nutritiously during Time as a Student) program.

Main Methods:

• Two pre/post study designs were employed.
• A pilot study tested the CENTS program, followed by a quasi-experimental evaluation.
• Key outcomes measured included perceived barriers, fruit and vegetable intake, cost appraisal, diet attitudes, self-efficacy, and sugary food consumption.

Main Results:

• Interventions significantly reduced perceived barriers related to cost and time for healthy eating.
• Accuracy in appraising the cost of healthy food improved.
• Positive shifts were observed in attitudes towards healthy eating and a reduction in unhealthy dietary behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Mindset change techniques are effective in addressing perceived barriers to healthy eating in college students.
• These interventions can promote healthier dietary patterns and discourage unhealthy eating habits.
• The CENTS program demonstrates potential for improving nutrition among students.