The Department of Foods and Nutrition at the University of Georgia conducted ten focus groups in five rural and urban areas of Georgia for the Georgia Cooperative Extension Service Family Nutrition Program (FNP). The primary objective of this work was to improve the health of people living with limited resources by developing client-sensitive food and nutrition education materials in an enjoyable format. Thirty-nine FNP agents participated in four focus groups. Sixty-three low-income community residents (African American, Caucasian, Hispanic, senior citizens, and parents of young children) participated in six focus groups. All participants indicated experiencing struggle for financial survival. Senior citizens face failing health and high health care costs. Younger participants revealed worry about health care costs, maintaining their own health, and keeping their children well. The following objectives should be primary considerations for future development of health and nutrition education resources with this audience: (1) recognize nutrition educational needs stemming from participants' economic, health, and nutrition concerns; (2) incorporate meal planning based on simple, low-cost recipes; (3) provide safe food storage and handling guidelines; (4) promote healthy eating to prevent chronic diseases and control existing diseases; (5) structure learning experiences in group sessions that are fun, interactive, and hands-on; (6) provide attractive food and nutrition print materials in a variety of locations; (7) develop video and audio tape materials to accompany class materials. These findings will be used to develop a pilot program based on the most frequently identified food and nutrition education needs for low-income families in Georgia.
Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize low-income population's major economic, health, and nutrition concerns. 2. List food and nutrition education needs of low-income populations. 3. Describe similarieties and differences of concerns and needs between senior citizens and parents with young children. 4. Discuss preferred learning methods of low-income learners. 5. Identify recruiting methods and incentives appropriate for low-income focus group participants.
Keywords: Food and Nutrition, Low-Income
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The University of Georgia
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.