Nutrition Knowledge and Associated Behavior Changes in a Holistic, Short-term Nutrition Education Intervention with Low-income Women

ObjectiveTo assess the impact of a short-term nutrition intervention using education on a comprehensive array of nutrition and health topics in low-income women.DesignPre- and postintervention surveys; 1 study condition (intervention group); experiential learning; pilot testing of education sessions.SettingCommunity centers, homeless shelters, or University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis–St Paul metropolitan area.ParticipantsEthnically diverse, low-income women (n = 118), 23–45 years of age.InterventionThree educational sessions providing a comprehensive curriculum of nutrition and health education via experiential and interactive lectures, activities, and demonstrations. One week to implement knowledge and behavioral changes, and pre- and postsurvey sessions to collect anthropometric data and evaluate changes in knowledge and behavior.Main Outcome MeasuresHealth benefits of all food groups; identification of healthful foods; shopping, cooking, and gardening; and energy balance.AnalysisPaired t tests, Pearson correlations.ResultsPostintervention increases in nutrition knowledge and favorable nutrition behavioral changes (P < .05).Conclusions and ImplicationsA short-term nutrition intervention using comprehensive nutrition and health education through experiential and interactive lessons, activities, and demonstrations has the capacity to increase nutrition knowledge and favorably change nutrition behaviors in a sample of low-income women.