Moving Forward:
A Real World Scenario
Donna Johnson, PhD, RD
Shelley Curtis, MPH, RD
Purpose:
„ To
apply feasible, cognitivelyappropriate, targeted dietary
assessment methods to evaluate the
impact of nutrition policy change.
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
„
Understand existing diet assessment methods for young
adolescents
„
Choose appropriate diet assessment methods based on
evaluation objectives, the perspectives and needs of the
school community, and available resources
„
Partner with others to develop new methodologies
The School
„ 6th
through 8th grade middle school
„ 700
students
„ 70%
white, 20% Asian,
10% 2 or more
„ 8%
white Hispanic
The Nutrition Environment:
Before New Policies
Beverage Vending
4 Machines:
„
2 by the gym; 1 by the teacher’s lounge;
1 in the hall outside of the cafeteria
Contents:
40% soft drinks (non-diet);
20% diet soft drinks; 15% water;
15% sports drinks; 10% iced tea.
„
Snack Vending
2 Machines:
1 by the gym; 1 in the hall
outside of the cafeteria
„
Contents:
„
„
„
Candy
High-Fat Snack Mix
Cookies
A la Carte
In cafeteria, not part of school lunch:
„
„
„
„
„
„
„
„
Ice cream bars
Large chocolate chip cookies
French Fries
Nachos
Corn dogs
Burritos
Milk (chocolate, whole, 2%)
Yogurt
School Lunch
„ Meals
meet USDA guidelines
„ Choice of 2 entrees
„ Choice of cooked vegetable, bowl of
“tossed salad” or canned fruit
„ No salad bar
Other Food Sales
„ ASB
sells donuts
Wednesday and Friday mornings
Food as Reward
„ Band
teacher offers trips to McDonald’s as
reward for perfect practice diaries
„ PTA offers pizza and soft drink parties for
most canned food collected during food
drive.
Special Events
„ Mothers
bring cupcakes
for Valentines Day
But Now…
New School Policies Kick-In
School Lunch: whenever
feasible and cost
effective:
-items low in fat, saturated
fat, trans fatty acids and
low in added sugar and
sodium
-protein alternatives
-fresh, locally grown,
unprocessed
-no additives or
preservatives
„
Competitive Foods:
-must meet nutrition
standards
-must meet portion size
guidelines
-vending machines, student
stores, fundraisers:
foods must meet nutrition
guidelines
-encourage healthful options
for parties and
celebrations
„
The Goal
Measure the impact
of policy changes on:
„ Student
diets at school
„ Total student diet
Logic Model Format
Outcomes
Input
→
Activities Short – Medium
→
Term
LongTerm
INPUTS
ACTIVITIES
Nutrition Policy
Committee
„ Food Service Director
„ Teachers
„ Vendors
„ ASB Advisor
„ School Administrator
Develop Policies
„ Changes in
a la Carte Menu
„ Non-Food Rewards
„ Change Foods in
Vending Machines
„ Sell Low-Fat
Dairy Products
„ Enforce Policies
„
„
Dietary Outcomes
Short Term
Medium Term
?
?
Long Term
?
Panel Question #1
What are the most
appropriate dietary
outcomes to assess in
the short, medium and
long-term?
Panel Question #2
What existing tools
can we use
to measure the shortterm outcomes?
Panel Question #3
Rate each tool for:
„ Cost
„ Time
„ Developmental
Appropriateness
„ Utility for Non-Native English Speaking
„ Reliability
„ Validity
„ Scientific Rigor
Panel Question #4
What are some
promising new ways
to assess diets
of children and youth?
Panel Question #5
What steps should we take to develop
new assessment tools to assure:
Scientific Rigor?
„ Feasibility in Overwhelmed School Systems?
„ Validity and Reliability for
Lower-Functioning Students?
„ Outcomes That Matter in the Long Term?
„