Year of Publication
2019
College
Public Health
Date Available
7-26-2019
Degree Name
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
Committee Member
Dr. Marc Kiviniemi
Advisor
Dr. Mark Swanson
Co-Director of Graduate Studies
Dr. Corrine Williams
Abstract
Poor diet quality is a leading risk factor for many chronic diseases affecting Americans today. Increasing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables during childhood helps to protect against chronic diseases in adulthood and overall prolonged healthier habits. Since 1988, trends in fruit consumption remain unchanged in the United States and vegetable consumption has slightly decreased. Communities living under the poverty level have a greater disparity for access to and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. This proposal is given by the Lexington Fayette County Health Department (LFCHD) and combines aspects of three evidence-based programs: the 5-a-day Power Plus Project, the Cafeteria
Power Plus Project and the CATCH’S Go, Slow and Whoa campaign to increase fresh produce consumption in elementary schools. The proposed program will benefit almost 1,800 fourth and fifth grade students at ten Community Eligible Provision (CEP) elementary schools in Fayette County, Kentucky where school breakfast and lunch are provided to all students free of charge. Teachers, cafeteria workers, other school staff and peer leaders in conjunction with the LFCHD dieticians from the Community Health Education and Equity department will disseminate the program throughout each school year through integrated classroom lessons, environmental changes to the food service line, encouragement from food service workers and more. Monthly taste tests of fresh fruits and vegetables will occur as well as friendly competitions to incorporate more fresh produce into breakfast and lunch meals at school. Process evaluation will assess the monthly food challenges, maintenance of program materials, number of integrated lessons given, fruit and vegetable purchased by the schools and fidelity among teachers and food service staff. A pre and post-test with delayed implementation in control schools will measure various outcomes of the proposed program. Data will be collected through photo analysis of food consumption and self-reported surveys. Short-term outcomes are increased knowledge of the benefits of eating fresh produce; increased fruit and vegetable consumption at school-provided meals and increased student willingness to try new fruits and vegetables. Long-term outcomes for the program include reduced childhood obesity in Fayette County and decreased rates of obesity-related diseases in Fayette County adults.
Recommended Citation
Keller, Kayla Payton, "IMPLEMENTING COMPONENTS OF THE CAFETERIA POWER PLUS PROJECT AND THE FIVE-A-DAY POWER PLUS PROJECT WITH THE CATCH’S GO, SLOW & WHOA PROGRAM TO INCREASE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION IN COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN LEXINGTON, KY" (2019). Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.). 242.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cph_etds/242
