Pairing feeding content with a nutrition education curriculum: A comparison of online and in-class delivery

Authors: HUGHES, SHERYL - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); POWER, THOMAS - Washington State University; BAKER, SUSAN - Colorado State University; BARALE, KAREN - Washington State University Extension Service; LANIGAN, JANE - Washington State University; PARKER, LOUISE - Washington State University Extension Service; SILVA GARCIA, KARINA - Washington State University; ARAGON, M - Washington State University Extension Service; JOHNSTON, CRAIG - University Of Houston; MICHELI, NILDA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/7/2019
Publication Date: 12/19/2019
Citation: Hughes, S.O., Power, T.G., Baker, S.S., Barale, K.V., Lanigan, J.D., Parker, L., Silva Garcia, K., Aragon, M.C., Johnston, C.A., Micheli, N. 2019. Pairing feeding content with a nutrition education curriculum: A comparison of online and in-class delivery. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 52(3):314-325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2019.11.004.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2019.11.004

Interpretive Summary: Food, Feeding and Your Family (FFYF) is a parenting program that encourages eating self-regulation in children. This article describes the research methods used to develop the program. A randomized controlled trial will examine the efficacy of the parenting program in three groups – in-class delivery of the parenting content, online delivery of the parenting content, and a control group that receives only nutrition education. The randomized controlled trial will be conducted through the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program in the states of Colorado and Washington. The FFYF program content was derived from a previously validated parenting/feeding program entitled Strategies for Effective Eating Development. Efficacy of the FFYF program will be determined by parent-report on validated measures including feeding practices, child eating behaviors, feeding styles, and acculturation assessed during the randomized controlled trial.

Technical Abstract: To develop a childhood obesity prevention program, Food, Feeding and Your Family (FFYF), which encourages eating self-regulation in young children. This article describes the research methods for FFYF. Activities that will be used to guide the development of the program are illustrated in a logic model. A randomized control trial will be conducted with participant groups randomized into 1 of 3 conditions: (1) in-class delivery of feeding content and nutrition education, (2) online delivery of feeding content and in-class delivery of nutrition education, and (3) nutrition education only. Assessments will be collected at baseline, program completion, and 6 and 12 months after completion of the program. Study will be conducted through the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program in Colorado and Washington State. Parents with 2- to 8-year-old children will be recruited from affiliated community agencies, 540 participants across both states. FFYF derives content from an empirically validated parental feeding program, Strategies for Effective Eating Development, and will be administered with Eating Smart * Being Active, an evidence-based, nutrition education curriculum. Parents will report on feeding practices, child eating behaviors, feeding styles, and acculturation. Because of the nested nature of the data, multilevel analyses will be used: time points, within parents, and within groups.