California My Healthy Plate: Incorporating EFNEP diet recalls into mini-lessons, meal cards, posters, handouts, and child placemats
This project was supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Grant#2010-85215-20658 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Human Nutrition and Obesity ̶ 93330.
ABSTRACT
Background: Educators
reported that EFNEP
participants needed a more
‘concrete’ approach to USDA’s
MyPlate graphic. They wanted
to see real food on the plate in
the recommended portions.
Method: EFNEP 24-hour
diet recalls [n= 165] were
analyzed specifically to
identify popular diets of
African Americans, Hispanics,
and whites. These recall
results were used to design
food plates of current EFNEP
diets in MyPlate portions.
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 national
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 Eating
Smart Being Active.
For downloadable e-files, see
www.Townsendlab.ucdavis.edu.
Method: Commonly eaten foods were identified from a review of CA EFNEP
24-hr recalls (n=165). These familiar foods were put into “plate” proportions (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 education materials ranging from meal cards to posters. The
education 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 situations MHP would be helpful. All parents reported
that MHP would be helpful in meal planning but only 30% thought it would be
helpful when eating 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 nationally in the development and testing of the “plate”
approach to nutrition education. Several years ago, California Nutrition Specialists
and NFCS Advisors, developed and tested a graphic almost identical to MyPlate.
Advisors developed and pilot tested a “plate” intervention. Through this work,
the team determined that pictures of plates containing real food would make it
easier for participants to understand the concepts of variety and portion size.
PROGRAM MATERIALS
Fourteen meal cards were styled in recommended “plate”
proportions featuring foods that EFNEP families eat. Meals
include breakfast (eggs), lunch (sandwich), dinner (chicken,
fish, pork chop) and fast food (pizza, taco, hamburger)
options as well as mixed (spaghetti, beef stir-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 existing
EFNEP/ESBA Lesson Sequences for eight 1-hour classes with
and without Food Tracker.
A participant handout that mimics the Main Concept poster
was created to complement the Introduction 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 Introduction lesson before any of the
other mini-lessons are delivered.
My Healthy Plate goal options sheet was developed to
assist participants in making specific plans to use MHP at
home. The Goals Sheet is used in the Fruit and Veggie mini-
lesson and Eating 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 activity
that parents can do with their child at home. The child
selects meal items and colors them on the placemat in
“plate” proportions. 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
conjunction 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 collaborating
agencies as promotional
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
