Apr 20th, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Title
Healthy Food Slide Rule Evaluation Project
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Elaine M. Long
Information
The purpose of this project was to conduct an evaluation of the Healthy Food Slide Rule and an accompanying lesson plan with children ages 9-12. The Healthy Food Slide Rule is a new educational tool based on the USDA’s My Pyramid and Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Student researchers taught the sample lessons to 40 students at a local elementary school during December 2008 and January 2009. The unique aspect of the Healthy Food Slide rule is children are able to enter their age, gender and activity level and manipulate the slide rule to determine amounts of foods they need from each of the five food groups. To evaluate each lesson, students filled out worksheets and sample menus. Knowledge gains by students were compared by evaluating difference in worksheet data from lesson 1 to lesson 2. Specific foods and activities identified by students on their worksheets was also evaluated in order to provide data for revising information on the slide rule and in the lesson plans. This project was supported by the Idaho Dairy Council and the Idaho Beef Council. This study was approved by the Boise State Human Subjects Research and Institutional Review Board #193-09-035.