Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
The rising obesity rate among children and adolescents has been linked to increasing rates of Type II diabetes, premature heart disease, and cancer. Two contributing factors are sedentary lifestyles and excess weight.

Dubuque Community School District is one of eight districts in Iowa involved as a “demonstration site” for TEAM Nutrition, an initiative of the USDA Food & Nutrition Service. Audubon Elementary School and Central Alternative High School are two of the three district buildings identified for involvement in this research project. Over 50% of their diverse student populations are eligible for free/reduced school meals. School nurses from these two buildings contacted ISUE for assistance with nutrition education.

Response:
The Nutrition and Health Field Specialist and 4-H/Youth Development Specialist partnered to provide a team approach to educate students on better nutrition and physical activity choices. Establishing healthy behaviors during childhood and adolescence is easier and more effective than trying to change unhealthy behaviors during adulthood. 

ISUE Field Specialists provided 4 hours of direct teaching on nutrition, food safety, fitness, and positive youth development principles with 10 students enrolled at Central Alternative High School. The hands-on instructional content was developed using: a) ISU Extension resources--Body Mindfulness, food safety, etc., b) MyPyramid and, c) JIFF (“Jump Into Foods and Fitness”) curriculum from Michigan State University Extension Service. Additional education materials were provided to the Central High School nurse who coordinated another 2-3 hours of training with students.

Impact:
Although poverty and multiple risk factors/barriers are a reality for many of these students, all of them showed strong interest, commitment, and responsibility to learn the information and prepare for their role as cross-age teachers. As a result, the high school students provided 2 hours of teaching to the entire 4th grade class (66 students) at Audubon Elementary School to emphasize the importance of staying physically active and making healthy food choices. The focus was on increased fruits and vegetables through a rainbow of colors.

ISUE Field Specialists worked with the district’s Food Service Director who provided ingredients for two healthy snacks that 4th-graders assembled, tasted, and devoured (“Trail Mix” and “Almost-a-Pyramid Sundaes”) In addition, parent newsletter sheets, which contained helpful tips and recipes for both snacks, were sent home with the 4th grade students.

Audubon 4th grade students extended their learning into other classrooms--particularly physical education and art classes--as they prepared for and hosted a School Health Fair targeted to parents, community members, and students from other grades. Physical fitness stations were set up to test one’s heart rate, weight, and height (to compute BMI), along with posters on the walls, and educational booths/displays around the perimeter from various agencies.

ISU Extension hosted two displays. One was staffed by an EFNEP Program Assistant who talked with/recruited parents for EFNEP and the other showed the amount of sugar in soft drinks, along with a plastic model of five pounds of fat. The district Food Service Director again supported the educational efforts by arranging several tables (draped with various colored fabrics to represent a “rainbow of colors”) to hold an assortment of unusual fruits and vegetables for participants to sample, including jicama, green pea pods, mangoes, blackberries, raspberries, etc., as well as cookies made with whole grains.

The district’s Media Director videotaped activities during the Health Fair and interviewed students and various school and agency staff members, including ISUE Field Specialists. This taping has been repeatedly shown on Dubuque’s fulltime Mediacom Cable Channel-dedicated to school functions and events-giving ISU Extension good visibility and outreach.

Additional ISUE Staff:
Brenda Welch, 4-H/Youth Development Specialist, 563-927-4201, bwelch@iastate.edu

Additional Team Members/Community Partners:
Rhonda Simpson, Central Alternative High School/Dubuque, 563-552-5759, rsimpson@dubuque.k12.ia.us
Trish Ernzen, Audubon Elementary School/Dubuque, 563-552-3308, pernzen@dubuque.k12.ia.us

Contact:
Cindy Baumgartner
Delaware County Extension
PO Box 336
Manchester, IA 52057
563-927-4201
cbaum@iastate.edu