Strong Nutrition Education Can Lead to Healthier Food Choices Among Low-Income Families

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131209104918.htm

Dec. 9, 2013 — Well-designed nutrition education programs can lead to healthier food choices among low-income families who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to a study conducted by Altarum Institute and RTI International.

The study, SNAP Education and Evaluation Study (Wave II), was funded by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It evaluated the impact of several nutrition education programs on fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income elementary school children and seniors.

"One of the most important findings from this study is that families want to eat healthy foods, even if they have limited resources," said Altarum Institute's Loren Bell, the study's project director. "Education efforts that help individuals and families make healthy food choices are clearly an important part of our overall health, and can make a big difference for families with young children all the way to our senior citizens."

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