Conversations in Science
for K-12 Educators

A program conceived and organized by the Wisconsin Initiative for Science Literacy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with the collaboration of the Madison Metropolitan School District and the Edgewood Sonderegger Science Center.


Thursday, March 9, 2006 at 4:00 p.m.

Fruits & Vegetables Aren’t Nutritious Until Somebody Eats Them

Susan A. Nitzke, Ph.D., R.D.
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION
Our team of researchers from 10 states developed two versions of an educational intervention that is effective in increasing fruit and vegetable intake among young adults. Diets high in fruits and vegetables have been shown to decrease the risk of developing chronic diseases, yet national surveys show that only 21.8% of 18-24 year-olds consume even the bare minimum of
5 or more fruits and vegetables per day. We based our intervention strategies and messages on the trans-theoretical model (TTM or “stages of change”).

In this session, I will demonstrate an interactive web-based system with self-test quizzes, individualized feedback, recipes, stage-appropriate video vignettes, and informational links. We will also discuss the current challenges that schools are facing in improving the quality of foods made available to students and in providing effective nutritional education.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Susan A. Nitzke, Ph.D., R.D. is a Professor of Nutritional Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her publications include:

Role of supportive books in promoting children’s positive behavior and attitudes about vegetables. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences. 2002; 94:72-74.

The importance of decisional balance and self-efficacy in relation to stages of change for fruit and vegetable intakes by young adults. American Journal of Health Promotion. 2002;16:157-166.

Preschool children’s acceptance of a novel vegetable following exposure to messages in a story book. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2002;34:211-214.
Decisional balance, self-efficacy and weight satisfaction discriminate stages of change for fruit and vegetable intakes among young men and women. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2002;102:1466-1470.

Position of the American Dietetic Association: Total diet approach to communicating food and nutrition information. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2002;102(1): 100-108.

Introducing a problem-based unit into a lifespan nutrition class using a randomized design produces equivocal outcomes. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2003;35:312-318.

Using a theory-driven approach to design a professional development workshop. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2003;35:312-318.

Development and validation of a self-efficacy measure for fat intake behaviors in low-income women. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2003;35:302-307.

Development of an instrument to assess pre-disposing, enabling, and reinforcing constructs associated with fat intake behaviors of low-income mothers. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2004;36:27-34.

Extension and research professionals join forces to address a critical nutrition issue. Journal of Extension [Online]. 2004;42(5). Available at:
http://www.joe.org/joe/2004-october/iwl.shtml

Viewpoint: Are soft drinks getting a bum rap? We don’t think so. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2004;36:266-271.

Predictors of Fat Intake Behavior Differ Between Normal Weight and Obese WIC Mothers. American Journal of Health Promotion. 2005;19:269-277.

READINGS
Please look over the web link in advance of the session.

www.nutrisci.wisc.edu/fav