Diet Quality and Nutrition Behavior of Federal Nutrition Education Program Participants before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Despite challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports from regional and national meetings of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education program (EFNEP) have provided anecdotal evidence that the program has persevered, pivoted, and continued to positively impact the lives of some of the nation’s mo...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/1/141 |
| _version_ | 1797440157890117632 |
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| author | Kavitha Sankavaram Annie J. Roe Jolene Whiteley William J. Price |
| author_facet | Kavitha Sankavaram Annie J. Roe Jolene Whiteley William J. Price |
| author_sort | Kavitha Sankavaram |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports from regional and national meetings of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education program (EFNEP) have provided anecdotal evidence that the program has persevered, pivoted, and continued to positively impact the lives of some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations. However, there have been necessary changes to program delivery, inevitable changes in the lives of participants, and changes in the food environment that may have impacted program outcomes. This study compares national EFNEP data (demographics, behavior change data, and 24 h dietary recall data) of participants from two federal fiscal years, before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the pandemic. Linear mixed model analysis of variance and covariance were used to assess the effects of year on program outcomes. Results of this study provide quantitative evidence of the resiliency of EFNEP to facilitate positive behavior changes related to diet quality, physical activity, food safety, food resource management, and food security. Amidst changes in the food environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, these results emphasize the importance and value of federal nutrition education programs in any food environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:04:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c5e8be95237a4098a21de010b6b649ee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:04:03Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-c5e8be95237a4098a21de010b6b649ee2023-11-30T23:00:52ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432022-12-0115114110.3390/nu15010141Diet Quality and Nutrition Behavior of Federal Nutrition Education Program Participants before and during the COVID-19 PandemicKavitha Sankavaram0Annie J. Roe1Jolene Whiteley2William J. Price3Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USAMargaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USAMargaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USAStatistical Programs, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USADespite challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports from regional and national meetings of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education program (EFNEP) have provided anecdotal evidence that the program has persevered, pivoted, and continued to positively impact the lives of some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations. However, there have been necessary changes to program delivery, inevitable changes in the lives of participants, and changes in the food environment that may have impacted program outcomes. This study compares national EFNEP data (demographics, behavior change data, and 24 h dietary recall data) of participants from two federal fiscal years, before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the pandemic. Linear mixed model analysis of variance and covariance were used to assess the effects of year on program outcomes. Results of this study provide quantitative evidence of the resiliency of EFNEP to facilitate positive behavior changes related to diet quality, physical activity, food safety, food resource management, and food security. Amidst changes in the food environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, these results emphasize the importance and value of federal nutrition education programs in any food environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/1/141nutritioneducationEFNEPlow-incomeCOVID-19food |
| spellingShingle | Kavitha Sankavaram Annie J. Roe Jolene Whiteley William J. Price Diet Quality and Nutrition Behavior of Federal Nutrition Education Program Participants before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic Nutrients nutrition education EFNEP low-income COVID-19 food |
| title | Diet Quality and Nutrition Behavior of Federal Nutrition Education Program Participants before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full | Diet Quality and Nutrition Behavior of Federal Nutrition Education Program Participants before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Diet Quality and Nutrition Behavior of Federal Nutrition Education Program Participants before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diet Quality and Nutrition Behavior of Federal Nutrition Education Program Participants before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_short | Diet Quality and Nutrition Behavior of Federal Nutrition Education Program Participants before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | diet quality and nutrition behavior of federal nutrition education program participants before and during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | nutrition education EFNEP low-income COVID-19 food |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/1/141 |
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