About Eating: an online program with evidence of increased food resource management skills for low-income women.
OBJECTIVE
Produce and evaluate About Eating (AE), an online program for low-income women aligned with the Satter eating competence model, congruent with best practices for nutrition education of low-income audiences.


METHODS
Responses from iterative cognitive interviews and online surveys with diverse samples of low-income women informed lesson revisions. The researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial of AE with low-income women to determine its impact on dietary behavior and food security.


RESULTS
In all, 284 women reviewed at least 1 AE lesson and endorsed it. After AE, women (n = 288) increased in use of food resource management skills (eg, using a budget [P = .008] and planning meals to include all food groups [P = .002]). About Eating participants who were food secure had more confidence in managing money for food (P = .002) and keeping track of food-related purchases (P = .02) than food-insecure persons.


CONCLUSIONS
Mixed-methods research with life stage and geodiverse samples confirmed the usefulness of AE. Food security assessment may enhance interpretation of intervention effectiveness.
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. Electronic address: lohseb@psu.edu.
Barbara
B
Lohse
Department of Health Policy & Administration, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
Rhonda
R
Belue
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Stephanie
S
Smith
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
Patricia
P
Wamboldt
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Leslie
L
Cunningham-Sabo
D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D011203:Poverty
food management; food security; low income; nutrition education; online education