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The Impact of Nutrition Education on Food Security Status and Food‐Related Behaviors
Author(s) -
Farrell Jamie Allison,
Cordeiro Lorraine,
Qian Jing,
Anliker Jean,
Peterman Jerusha
Publication year - 2013
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.27.1_supplement.lb334
Subject(s) - food security , environmental health , purchasing , food insecurity , nutrition education , business , low income , food industry , poverty , medicine , agriculture , marketing , food science , socioeconomics , economics , gerontology , geography , economic growth , biology , archaeology
Low‐income households are at risk of food insecurity and altered food related behaviors. This study examined the relationship between food security status and specific food purchasing practices. Participants in the Massachusetts Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) completed a pre‐curriculum survey. Household food security was assessed by the USDA 6‐item food security module. We asked additional questions about how often participants could afford healthy foods, fruits and vegetables, and the same foods throughout the month. In the pre‐EFNEP survey, 41% (n=58) were food insecure and 66% (n=38) had marginal/low/very low food security. Overall, 22% (n=13) that could always or often afford healthy foods, 26% (n=15) that could always or often afford fruit and vegetables, and 24% (n=14) that could always or often afford the same foods all month experienced low/very low/marginal food security. Those with marginal/low/very low food security were less likely than fully food secure to report they could always afford healthy foods, fruits and vegetables, and the same foods all month. Food purchasing behaviors can be affected by the strain of limited resources. Nutrition education can provide skills and knowledge to low‐income, food insecure populations so they may better manage resources to afford foods they need throughout the month. UMass Amherst Office of Faculty Development