Determining the Effectiveness of an Adult Food Literacy Program Using a Matched Control Group

Area of Science:

• Nutrition science
• Behavioral science

Background:

• Food literacy is crucial for informed dietary choices.
• Adults often face challenges in food planning, selection, and preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the Food Sensations for Adults program on food literacy behaviors.
• To assess changes in selected dietary behaviors, specifically fruit and vegetable consumption.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-program questionnaires over 4 weeks.
• Involved a control group (n=75) matched to program participants (n=867).
• Statistical analysis using general linear mixed models.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in the 'plan and manage' (12.4%) and 'preparation' (9.8%) domains of food literacy.
• Participants increased vegetable servings by 22.6% (0.5 servings).

Conclusions:

• Food literacy programs like Food Sensations for Adults can yield modest short-term improvements.
• These programs demonstrate potential for positive changes in dietary behaviors and food skills.