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Exposure to calcium‐rich foods lessons increases nutrition knowledge among 5th‐grade students
Author(s) -
Linnell Jessica,
Briggs Marilyn,
Zidenberg-Cherr Sheri
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.815.9
Subject(s) - demographics , pacific islanders , curriculum , nutrition education , psychological intervention , population , ethnic group , consumption (sociology) , medicine , gerontology , medical education , psychology , environmental health , demography , pedagogy , sociology , social science , psychiatry , anthropology
Calcium is a nutrient of concern, most notably in children ages 9–18. There are limited calcium‐rich foods curricula for this population. The purpose of this pilot study was to test a calcium‐rich foods curriculum developed by the University of California Davis Center for Nutrition in Schools. Students (n=33) in two 5th grade classrooms participated in four 30‐minute lessons over four weeks. Family newsletters were used to reinforce concepts from the lessons. Pre‐ and post‐ measures of student knowledge, parent knowledge and attitudes, and milk consumption during school lunch were collected. Student knowledge questionnaires were tested for construct validity (p<0.01) and reliability (Pearson R= 0.79) in a population with similar demographics. School demographics: 5.2% qualify for free/reduced lunch; 1.4% African American, 0.6% American Indian/Alaska Native, 5.4% Asian, 2.1% Filipino, 8.3% Hispanic/Latino, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 80.1%White not Hispanic, 2.0% Two or more races. Student knowledge increased significantly (p<0.01) from baseline (5.52 +/− 1.79) to follow‐up (8.24 +/− 1.97) out of a possible total score of 10. Parent knowledge and attitudes did not change significantly. Milk consumption was too low to be included in the analysis. These lessons will be incorporated into future controlled nutrition education interventions. Supported by UC Davis Center for Nutrition in Schools.