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
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