Effect of nutrition education on health-related behaviors of school children

This research assessed effects of the BASICS for Nutrition and Physical Activity Program provided by the Iowa Department of Public Health. The program encourages children in low-income schools to eat healthy and be physically active. The goal of the program is improving children's health through promoting a healthy lifestyle. Structural Equation Modeling was used to analyze the 2009, 2010, and 2011 datasets. The results showed significantly increased happiness with eating fruits and vegetables by third-grade children after they tried these products, learned simple recipes for preparing snacks with fruits and vegetables, and learned about the health benefits of these products in school. Knowledge of the program's materials significantly and positively influenced children's self-efficacy of being able to prepare snacks with fruits and vegetables at home. Self-efficacy significantly and positively influenced food preferences toward fruits and vegetables. Third-grade children living in rural areas know the program's materials better and are more self-sufficient in preparing fruit and vegetable snacks than children of the same age living in urban areas. Multiple regression analysis showed that knowledge of program materials and self-efficacy about physical activity after school significantly and positively influenced children's desire to be physically active in 2009, 2010, and 2011.