Feasibility and Acceptability of a School-Based Nutrition Education Toolkit: Findings from an Expert Review

Helping Early Adolescents Live Their Healthiest Youth (HEALTHY) is a theory-driven, school-based nutrition education program grounded in frozen-fruit smoothie taste tests that has been shown to improve fruit intake and promote nutrition security among rural adolescents. To support broader dissemination, a comprehensive implementation toolkit and website were developed. This study conducted an expert review to evaluate the feasibility, clarity, and acceptability of the HEALTHY Toolkit. A survey collected quantitative (Likert-scale) and qualitative (open-ended) data, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Experts (N = 15) primarily included Registered Dietitians (40%, n = 6) and school nutrition professionals (33%, n = 5). Experts reported high agreement that the HEALTHY Toolkit provided sufficient detail and guidance for implementation, indicating strong feasibility, clarity, and acceptability. Mean scores across Toolkit sections were high: Part I. Foundations (4.70 ± 0.26), Part II. Program Design and Implementation (4.64 ± 0.41), and Part III. Tools and Resources (4.14 ± 0.17). These findings support the use of formative evaluation approaches, such as expert review, to optimize implementation resources and strengthen readiness before dissemination. Overall, the HEALTHY Toolkit was perceived as a promising resource for supporting the implementation of the HEALTHY program.