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California My Healthy Plate: Incorporang EFNEP diet recalls into mini-lessons, meal cards, posters, handouts, and child placemats This project was supported by Agriculture and Food Research Iniave Grant#2010-85215-20658 from the USDA Naonal Instute of Food and Agriculture, Human Nutrion and Obesity 93330. ABSTRACT Background: Educators reported that EFNEP parcipants needed a more ‘concrete’ approach to USDA’s MyPlate graphic. They wanted to see real food on the plate in the recommended porons. Method: EFNEP 24-hour diet recalls [n= 165] were analyzed specifically to idenfy popular diets of African Americans, Hispanics, and whites. These recall results were used to design food plates of current EFNEP diets in MyPlate porons. Results: A professional photographer took photographs for adults using a 9-10 inch plate and young children using a 6-7 inch plate to be used in curricular materials. Five mini-lessons were developed and successfully pilot tested for use with popular naonal EFNEP curricula. Program materials: Available for EFNEP use in other states are 5 mini- lessons, 14 meal cards 8.5 x 11” printed on durable heavy paper, 5 posters in English and Spanish, 2 handouts 8.5 x 11”, child placemat, goal sheets, lesson sequence with Eang Smart Being Acve. For downloadable e-files, see www.Townsendlab.ucdavis.edu. Method: Commonly eaten foods were idenfied from a review of CA EFNEP 24-hr recalls (n=165). These familiar foods were put into “plate” proporons (½ plate fruit and vegetable, ¼ plate protein & ¼ plate grains) and adjusted based on feedback from low-income adults (n=227). Professional photographs were taken of 26 different meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) for adults and children. A graphic designer incorporated the photos with messages to create educaon materials ranging from meal cards to posters. The educaon materials and mini-lessons were pilot tested with low-income parents (n=41) with young children. In a second sample, parents (n=20) were interviewed then were asked which situaons MHP would be helpful. All parents reported that MHP would be helpful in meal planning but only 30% thought it would be helpful when eang away from home. Most thought (80-95%) it would be useful for making a shopping list, grocery shopping and/or preparing meals. To assist in using MHP 90% reported that a MHP refrigerator magnet would be helpful. 85% would like a shopping list pad and 70% would like text message reminders. Background: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources division has led the way naonally in the development and tesng of the “plate” approach to nutrion educaon. Several years ago, California Nutrion Specialists and NFCS Advisors, developed and tested a graphic almost idencal to MyPlate. Advisors developed and pilot tested a “plate” intervenon. Through this work, the team determined that pictures of plates containing real food would make it easier for parcipants to understand the concepts of variety and poron size. PROGRAM MATERIALS Fourteen meal cards were styled in recommended “plate” proporons featuring foods that EFNEP families eat. Meals include breakfast (eggs), lunch (sandwich), dinner (chicken, fish, pork chop) and fast food (pizza, taco, hamburger) opons as well as mixed (spaghe, beef sr-fry) and Hispanic dishes (sopa, torta, tacos, chicken). The meal cards are 8.5 x 11” and printed on high quality, durable heavy paper so they can be reused with each class. The MHP mini-lessons were integrated into the exisng EFNEP/ESBA Lesson Sequences for eight 1-hour classes with and without Food Tracker. A parcipant handout that mimics the Main Concept poster was created to complement the Introducon mini-lesson. Handouts are 8.5”x11” and come as a pad of 50 tear-off sheets. Five My Healthy Plate mini-lessons (10-15 minutes each) have been developed to be used with ESBA. The mini- lessons are learner-centered and incorporate posters, meal cards, handout, placemat, and goal sheet. It is recommended that the educator select the MHP mini- lessons most relevant to the target audience. All five lessons do not need to be taught. It is important however to include the MHP Introducon lesson before any of the other mini-lessons are delivered. My Healthy Plate goal opons sheet was developed to assist parcipants in making specific plans to use MHP at home. The Goals Sheet is used in the Fruit and Veggie mini- lesson and Eang out mini-lesson. Goal sheets are 8.5”x5.5” and come as a pad of 50 tear-off sheets. A placemat was developed as a fun meal planning acvity that parents can do with their child at home. The child selects meal items and colors them on the placemat in “plate” proporons. The placemat is used in the Meal Planning mini-lesson and the Kids mini-lesson. Placemats are 11”x17” and come as a pad of 50 tear-off sheets. Five posters can be used in conjuncon with the MHP mini- lessons or stand alone. All the posters come in two formats: digital and print. The 20 x 30” main concept poster will be printed in English and Spanish and is intended to be given to collaborang agencies as promoonal materials. The three other posters will be printed 11 x 17” for easy transport and use in class when a projector for the digital version is not available. Marilyn Townsend PhD, Mical Shilts PhD, Connie Schneider PhD, Margaret Johns RD, Cathi Lamp MPH,RD
