Making Better Choices – A Primary Prevention Model
Authors: Amaya Castro, Chloe Collipp, Jordan Denmead, and Sydney Parker
Faculty Supervisor: Nicole Masano, DNP, RN, MSN, CNM, CNE
Community Partner: Jesup Elementary School
Abstract:
Due to the fact that often times, diet is generational, a long-driven habit cannot be halted easily. We were able to provide the children and parents with hand-outs, and links to resources in the form of a shopping lists with healthy examples of foods at their local grocery store according to food group, accompanied by a cheat sheet to cut costs based on government dietician guidelines. Our audience was 3 fourth grade classes, who would take a pre-survey online and submit prior to coming to the gym where 4 food-group stations would be set up. The goal was to separate students into 4 even groups of 10, each group rotated to a station where each member of the presenter group was waiting to provide education on specific food groups, healthy alternatives, and correct portions. After all rotations had been completed, the students would sit with the groups they had been traveling with. We positioned a huge plate in front of them to which we would play the Portion Game, with prizes as incentives. After the game was over and prizes were dispersed, we introduced our continuing challenge--a competition for the healthiest plate for their chance to win a fifty dollar gift card to their local grocery store. The students then returned to class with handouts and take the post survey.
