Addressing Children's Nutritional Needs with Community-Based Participatory Action Research

Area of Science:

• Community-based participatory action research (CBPAR)
• Nutrition education
• Intergenerational programming

Background:

• Food insecurity risks children's development.
• Intergenerational nutrition education can improve access, consumption, and knowledge of healthy foods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the development, implementation, and lessons learned from the first year of the Food for a Long Life (FFLL) program.
• FFLL is an intergenerational CBPAR project designed to increase healthy food knowledge, access, and consumption in a food-insecure community.
• Recruited preschoolers, their families, and older adults from local preschools and an adult day services center.

Main Methods:

• Community stakeholders informed the development and delivery of intergenerational nutrition education.
• Conducted 26 nutrition education sessions for preschoolers, families, and older adults.
• Collected data through the Household Food Security Survey (HHFS), Healthy Kids measure, and staff interviews.

Main Results:

• Families exhibited marginal food security but generally healthy eating behaviors.
• Staff reported FFLL programming enhanced preschoolers' eating behaviors, including trying new foods.
• Ongoing collaboration with community partners was crucial for program success.

Conclusions:

• Building relationships among community members, Extension staff, and researchers fosters trust.
• Strong relationships can enhance the reach and impact of FFLL programming and research.
• Intergenerational approaches strengthen community ties and promote healthy eating.