MyPlate Fights Food InsecurityJulia Bird, December 2011

For MPH-Nutrition course Community Nutrition

A little about me

In MPH-N since Spring 2011 BSc (microbiology) from

University of Sydney Working for DSM Nutritional

Products, NJ

Warren County, NJ

• Population 110,000

• Semi-rural, yet 1 hour’s drive from New York City

• Median household income $74,000 (NJ: $70,000)

Source: County Health Rankings. Warren County, New Jersey. http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/new-jersey/warren/other-measures Accessed September 12, 2011

Warren County, NJ

• Health risks:

• 36% overweight

• 25% obese

• Only 28% consume at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables

• 25% did not participate in physical activity in the past month

Source: Warren County Health Department, Warren County Health Improvement Plan 2007 http://www.co.warren.nj.us/healthdept/includings/WCHealthPlan.pdf

Finding a project…

The mayor of my town:– Wellness campaign November 2008

Warren County Health Department

Family and Community Health Outreach (Rutgers)

…. Knowlton Township Elementary

School

Source: Town of Hackettstown. Community. http://www.hackettstown.net/community/ Accessed September 4, 2011.

Knowlton Township Elementary

280 children aged Pre K-6 10.6% of students have disabilities 98.9% of students’ first language at home is

English 0% student expulsions since 2008 (State=4%)

Sources: Knowlton Township Elementary School. Homepage. http://www.knowltonschool.com/index.htm accessed December 1, 2011

New Jersey Department of Education Report Card. 2010. Knowlton Township Elementary School. http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc10/dataselect.php?c=41;d=2470;s=040;lt=K;st=A&datasection=all Accessed December 1, 2011

The “Just Say No Club”

After-school program for kids in grades 4-6 Includes information about healthy living Proposed as a target audience for my community

education project– Fruit and vegetable intakes are low in Warren County– Work with planned food drive?

Overview of my program

Information sheet about “healthy foods” for food drive

1. Introduction to MyPlate (theory) Focus on “Eat the Rainbow of Fruits and Vegetables”

2. Suggestions for foods from each food group from children (interactive session)

3. Drawing MyPlate – coloring sheet

Food drive collectionSource of materials including coloring sheet: USDA. MyPlate – Print materials http://www.choosemyplate.gov/tipsresources/printmaterials.html accessed October 3, 2011

Example of handout for parents

Some images from my project implementation…

Introduction to myPlate

“Eat the Rainbow”

MyPlate coloring sheets

MyPlates

Assessment of plates

Plate # Fruit Vegetable Grain Protein Dairy

Plate 1 Cherries Broccoli Spaghetti Egg Cheese

Plate 2Cherries, orange, blueberry

Carrots & broccoli Toast Chicken None

Plate 3Apple, banana, strawberry Broccoli Sandwich Meat Milk

Plate 4 Peaches Broccoli Rice Nuts Milk

Plate 5Banana, strawberry Broccoli Pasta

Filet mignon Cheese

Plate 6 Strawberries CarrotsCanned corn Chicken

Chocolate soy milk

Results of Food Drive

Food collected in boxes outside classrooms I checked three boxes

– Out of 92 items, 42 were “healthy” = 46%

Healthy items included canned vegetables, whole grain pasta, canned tuna and meats in brine, reduced sodium soup, high-fiber cereal

Learning points

It is difficult to present to children! – Estimating knowledge is difficult

Three year age gap = large difference Very fast pace – ran out of activities Unexpected questions

Credits

Project: Thanks to Sherri Cirignano from the Rutgers Community Outreach, Mrs Harer and Mrs Staub, and the children in the Just Say No Club at Knowlton Township Elementary School