Educating Pennsylvanians about Healthy Eating

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Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Network
Updates
Meg Bruening, RD, LDN Nutritionist March 21, 2007
Educating Pennsylvanians about Healthy Eating
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PA Nutrition Education Network

• Individuals and organizations that share the
  mission of delivering nutrition education to
  Pennsylvanias citizens, particularly low-income
  households.

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PA NUTRITION EDUCATION TRACKS

• Previously called PA Nutrition Education Program
  (PA NEP)
• Provides cost-share support for nutrition
  education to audiences that are 50 or more food
  stamp eligible
• Curriculum/materials is divided into tracks
• Pre-school
• School-Age
• Adults/seniors
• Just completed proposal process for Fiscal Year
  07-08

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Its Hard to Eat Healthy on a Tight Budget
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Trends in the US

• Low fruit and vegetable consumption
• Americans consume 1.4 servings of fruit/day
• Americans consume 3.7 servings of vegetables/day
• Increased consumption of soft drinks
• Milk intake has decreased 40 as soda intake has
  increased 300
• Decreased physical activity
• Increased snacking
• More meals away from home
• Larger portion sizes

Drewnowski A, SE Specter, Poverty and obesity
the role of energy density and energy costs1,2Am
J Clin Nutr 2004796 16.
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Obesity in Relationship to Income and Poverty
Schoenborn CA, Adams PF, Barnes PM. Body weight
status of adults United States, 199798. Adv
Data 2002330115.
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Nutritional Factors

• Maximizing caloric intake
• Consuming lower cost foods with higher energy
  levels
• Overeating when food is available
• More food is available during the first 3 weeks
  of the month
• Eat more than normally would during this period
• Physiological changes
• Food insecurity could cause weight cycling to
  help body conserve energy when food is available

McIntyre, L, NT Glanville, et al (2003). Do
low-income mothers compromise their nutrition to
feed their children? Canadian Medical
Association Journal. 168(6) 689-691.
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Food Quality or Quantity?

• Access
• Rural and Urban commonalities
• Convenience stores, corner stores and fast food
  vs. supermarkets
• 3x as many supermarkets in wealthy areas
• 4x as many supermarkets in white neighborhoods
• Lack of transportation to food
• Food Cost
• Decreased consumption of fruits, vegetables, and
  lean meats as compared to populations with higher
  income
• Increased consumption of energy-dense food rather
  than nutrient-dense foods.

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Cheap calories grain, sugar, fatBubble
sizecalories/week
Based upon 1999 Thrifty Food Plan Drewnowski.
Obesity and the Built Environment. Washington,
DC. May 2004.
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Macaroni and Cheese is Cheap

• 6 boxes of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese costs 2.99
• 1.5 lbs of broccoli costs 2.99

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Which Would You Choose??

• Cereal
• Fruity Dyno-Bytes 1.64 / lb
• Raisin Bran 2.38 / lb
• Fiber One 3.51 /l b
• Berry Burst Cheerios 5.12 / lb
• Pop Tart 1.41-1.88 / lb

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Location, Cost, and Nutrient Density
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Juice or Soda?

• Generic Soda 18.5/pint
• Brand Soda 34.7/pint
• Twister (10 juice) 55.6/pint
• 100 Juice (generic) 66.8/pint
• 100 Juice (brand) 78.2/pint

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Location, Cost, and Nutrient Density
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Snack anyone?

• Chips 4.07 / lb
• Granola Bar 3.15-4.15 / lb
• Almonds 7.47 / lb
• Box of Little Debbie Snacks(1.06) 2 apples

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Got Milk?

• Per gallon, milk costs
• Whole 3.32
• 2 3.14
• 1 2.99
• Skim 2.89

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Say Cheese!

• Velveeta 2.83 / lb
• Generic block 4.18 / lb
• Name Brand 4.58-4.96 / lb

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Location, Cost, and Nutrient Density
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Meat and Potatoes

• 5 pound bag of potatoes 3.49
• 5 pounds sweet potatoes 4.98
• 85 lean 3.69 / lb
• 73 lean beef 2.29 / lb
• Double cheese burger 1.00

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• As stated by the editors of Lancet in the January
  2004 issue
• As long as a meal of grilled chicken, broccoli
  and fresh fruit costs more than a burger and
  friesthen the battle against obesity is lost.

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Consequences

• Increased incidence of chronic disease
• Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart Disease, Cancer
• Lost work time due to illness
• Premature death
• For adults with a BMI above 45, life expectancy
  decreases up to 20 years
• Rising health care costs
• As BMI increases, the number of sick days,
  medical claims, and healthcare costs increase

Fontaine, Redden, Wang, et al. Years of life lost
due to obesity. JAMEl 289187-193. Burton,
Chen, Schultz, Edington. The Cost of Body Mass
Index Levels in an Employed Population.
Statistical Bulletin on the Metropolitan Life
Insurance Co, 1999 803 8-14.
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Nutrition Education is Necessary

• Besides economic obstacles, low-income families
  face significant issues related to food
• Access to reliable nutrition information
• Sources of nutritious food for their families
• Increased risk of nutrition-related health
  conditions
• Problems with financial management and
• Federal food programs availability in their
  area.
• The PA NEN works to address these issues.

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PA Nutrition Education Network

• Community Briefings
• The PA NEN puts together a workshop in your local
  area
• Demonstrate methods of nutrition education for
  low-income seniors
• Share nutrition education resources
• How your agency/organization can participate in
  TRACKS

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PA Nutrition Education Network

• Nutrition Education Database
• User-friendly searchable database for nutrition
  education programming
• Two criteria required for entering programs
• Nutrition education is offered for free
• Programming incorporates MyPyramid and the 2005
  Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• Enter your program now!
• http//pahunger.org/panen

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PA Nutrition Education Network

• PA State Nutrition Action Plan (SNAP)
• Nutrition Education featuring 18 different
  vegetables
• Health benefits
• Selection/Preparation tips
• Growing
• Recipes
• Activities (quizzes, crosswords, word searches)
• Larger font versions of the materials available
• http//panen.psu.edu/snap

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PA Nutrition Education Network

• Digital Photo Receivers (DPRs)
• Automated photo frame that provides nutrition
  education
• A Guide to Whole Grain Foods
• A Guide to Eating Well
• Breakfast is Smart
• Shop for Folic Acid

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Some Other Nutrition Education Resources

• Food Stamp Nutrition Connection
• http//foodstamp.nal.usda.gov
• MyPyramid
• http//mypyramid.gov
• Fruits and Veggies-More Matters
• http//www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/
• Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association punch out food
  models
• 1-800-220-6586

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Thank You!

• Questions? Comments?