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Formative Evaluation Summary
Deal Me In ... food and fitness
After-School Nutrition Education and Physical Activity Program:
Kindergarten - Sixth Grade
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In fall 2004, Dairy Council of California conducted an evaluation of the first release
of Deal Me In ... food and fitness (DMI) among children in the after-school
setting with Erika Takada Evaluation and Consulting. The main objective of this
evaluation was to evaluate whether students in after-school settings are meeting
the DMI student outcomes. A mixed-methods approach of quantitative and qualitative
methods was utilized. Fifteen after-school program leaders administered surveys
to the children before they began the implementation of assigned DMI activities
and again after the implementation of DMI activities. Analyses of data from 13 diverse
after-school programs that participated throughout California were included with
143 K-2 surveys and 179 3-6 surveys. Summarized below are the DMI evaluation highlights. |
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Food Groups
DMI included card games and booklet activities that educated children about the
food groups that make up USDA's Food Guide Pyramid. The majority of children were
able to match food items to their appropriate food groups. There was a statistically
significant improvement in children's scores (p<.001) from pre- to post-test in
correctly identifying foods to USDA Food Guide Pyramid food groups. Table 1 shows
percentages by lower and upper elementary grades.
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Table 1, Food Group Paired t-test
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Grades K-2
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n= 38
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Grades 3-6
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n= 176
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Food Group Score
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Mean
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p-value
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Mean
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p-value
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Pre
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5.7
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n/a
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10.0
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n/a
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Post
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7.4
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.000***
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11.0
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.000***
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***p<.001
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As expected, greater nutrition knowledge gains were observed in the kindergarten
through second-grade group, likely due to less prior nutrition education. Figures
1 and 2 list the pre- and post-test percentages for statistically significant individual
food items. Children correctly grouped foods post-test for food-group foods and
items that are classified as extras. This knowledge is the first step in the behavior-change
process to make better food choices.
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Figure 1, Grades K-2 Statistically Significant Food Group Items
Figure 2, Grades 3-6 Statistically Significant Food Group Items
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Healthy Snack and Breakfast Choices
The second nutrition objective tested from DMI was for children to be able to identify
and select healthy breakfast and snack-food options. The focus was on these two
eating occasions where children have the greatest control and could demonstrate
attitudinal improvement and long-term behavior change. The K-2 children had a highly
statistically significant improvement in their scores (p< .01) from pre- to post-test.
Grade 3-6 children demonstrated a slight improvement in their scores, although it
did not reach significance. Although not individually statistically significant,
the trend for yogurt and low-fat chocolate milk improved, suggesting a positive
attitude. It is also important to note that the upper elementary children already
scored well at the pre-test so it was more difficult to make a statistically significant
impact on the score. |
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Table 2, Healthy Snack and Breakfast Paired t-test
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Grades K-2
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n= 38
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Grades 3-6
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n= 176
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Healthy snack and breakfast score
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Mean
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p-value
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Mean
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p-value
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Pre
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11.1
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n/a
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14.5
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n/a
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Post
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11.9
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.004**
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14.8
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.114
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**p<.01
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Program Leader Comments:
Eighty-nine percent of the program leaders reported that, overall, the children
enjoyed participating in DMI very much. Seventy-eight percent of the program leaders
said that DMI could help children improve their eating habits. Those after-school
program leaders who worked with a larger group of children reported needing to alter
the activities slightly to accommodate the size of the group. The adjustments worked
well, according to the program leaders. Leader comments illustrate the value sites
have on teaching healthy eating habits and the positive reaction from children participating
in the program.
The children’s favorite activities were those that allowed them to make something
to take home. Interestingly, program leaders liked activities that encouraged talking
and discussion between them and the children, as well as among the children. |
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Summary
This evaluation found that, overall, children in the after-school setting met the
DMI student outcomes as identified by the program goals. With increasing pressure
for classroom time, offering nutrition during out-of-school time provides another
opportunity to teach healthy behaviors. As a result of the program, children were
able to:
- Recognize and choose healthy food options according to USDA's MyPyramid
- Select healthy breakfast and snack-food options
Children and program leaders rated the program well. After this evaluation, Deal
Me In ... food and fitness was revised to be a more effective, self-contained
nutrition and physical-activity program for elementary-aged children in the after-school
setting and to align with USDA’s MyPyramid.
Results of this study are listed in the Harvard Health Out-of-School Time Program Evaluations
website.
View Deal Me In ...
food and fitness materials.
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