A "contract for change" increases produce consumption in low-income women: a pilot study.
This study determined whether a "Contract for Change" goal-setting exercise enhanced the effectiveness of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education/Food Stamp Nutrition Education programs to increase produce consumption in low-income (<130% of poverty) women after 4 weeks. Thirty-eight participants were randomized in this three-group parallel arm study: (a) control group participants received life-skills lessons, (b) the education group received the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education/Food Stamp Nutrition Education "Food Guide Pyramid" lessons, and (c) the contract group also received the "Food Guide Pyramid" series and completed a "Contract for Change." It was hypothesized that the contract group would have the greatest increases in advancement toward dietary change and produce consumption. Compared with controls, the contract group significantly moved toward acceptance of vegetable consumption (P < or = .05). Compared with the education group, the contract group significantly increased fruit consumption. Results suggest that nutrition professionals can effectively use goal-setting to assist low-income populations with dietary change.
Heneman
Karrie
K
Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Block-Joy
Amy
A
Zidenberg-Cherr
Sheri
S
Donohue
Susan
S
Garcia
Linda
L
Martin
Anna
A
Metz
Diane
D
Smith
Dorothy
D
West
Estella
E
Steinberg
Francene M
FM
D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004045:Dietary Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011203:Poverty; D020377:Self Efficacy; D014675:Vegetables