The CENTS program: promoting healthy eating by addressing perceived barriers

Objective Nutrition interventions addressing barriers to healthy eating can mitigate concerns regarding poor diet and obesity among college students. Aimed at reducing healthy eating perceived barriers, this investigation employed two mindset change intervention studies. Design First, a nutrition improvement program called CENTS (Cost of Eating Nutritiously during Time as a Student) that disseminated specific information and utilized experiential activities for mindset change was developed and pilot tested using a pre/post study design. Second, using a similar pre/post method, the CENTS program was evaluated in a quasi-experimental design. Main Outcome Measures We examined perceived barriers to healthy eating (e.g. too costly, too much time), fruit and vegetable consumption, and other variables related to healthy eating (e.g. cost estimates, diet attitudes, self-efficacy, sugary foods consumption). Results Results demonstrated some improvement in many outcomes between the two studies. Most noteworthy, the two major perceived barriers of healthy eating (i.e. too expensive, too much time to prepare) dramatically reduced and cost appraisal accuracy improved. Moreover, some attitudes to eat healthy improved and some unhealthy dietary behaviors reduced. Conclusion Using mindset change techniques to address perceived barriers to healthy eating, interventions can promote healthy eating and discourage unhealthy dietary habits among college students.