Evaluation of a peer-taught nutrition education program for low-income parents

This study examined the results of an evaluation of two nutrition education classes delivered by trained parents from the Head Start and Parents as Teachers (PAT) programs to their low-income peers. The objective of the project was to improve knows ledge and skills related to healthy-cost rating among low-income residents in San Bernardino County, California. The measurable outcome variables were improvement in self-reported nutrition knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and intention. The project lasted 2 years: the first year involved development and pilot resting of two 1-hour nutrition classes, "Sketching Your Food Dollars" and "Healthy, Low-Far Eating;" the second year involved training parent teachers to conduct the nutrition classes at Head Start and PAT sites. The classes were simultaneously taught in both English and Spanish by two-member teams of a total of 20 parent teachers. Using a pretest-post-test design, this project evaluated over 300 parent participants at Head Start and PAT who attended one of the two classes, of whom about 70% were primarily Spanish speaking. Using t-test and chi-square analyses to compare pre- and post-class scores, participants demonstrated modest improvement in knowledge levels of low-cost, low-fat nutrition methods (p =.0001); improved attitude toward healthy, low-cost meal planning (p =.007); moderate levels of self-efficacy for purchasing and eating healthy, low-cost foods; and strong intentions to try the suggestions horn class. The results of this project indicate-that volunteer parents can be trained to teach brief nutrition education classes to low-income parents. Barriers to implementation and suggestions for future programs are discussed.