PADAF received a grant from Pennsylvania Department of Health to provide nutrition education to parents of school aged children in the prevention of osteoporosis. This 45 minute power point program was designed to give parents the tools to help select healthy meals and snacks for their children by promoting consumption of calcium rich foods as well as stressing the importance of daily physical activity.

Throughout the school year (220-2007) we held 15 programs.  Six of these programs were held during Osteoporosis Awareness Month (May). We had 183 participants with about 25-30 children also in attendance. The following programs were held:

Overall, more than 95% participants felt that they had an increased knowledge about bone health. Because of this workshop, 99% of the parents/caretakers reported they would consciously increase the calcium intake of both they and their children. 98% would encourage their children to increase their physical activity. Interestingly, most of our percentages were in the 90 percentile except for the reduction of soda drinking. Four of the 15 sites averaged less than 80%. This coincides with the high percentage of Americans who use soda every day as a beverage. It appears that we need to do more education regarding soda intake, especially at mealtime.

Nine foods (or groups) were listed and participants marked which foods they would increase as a result of this presentation. Greens were most often cited as a food that families would increase. Interestingly, presenters noted that legumes were least marked (except in the Spanish speaking areas) and often participants needed an explanation of what legumes were. Cheese is readily consumed and so was not marked as often as skim milk.

Participants were surprised to find that almonds, some dried fruit and some greens could contribute to calcium intake and were grateful for the handouts that enumerated how much calcium could be obtained in various foods.

PADA continues to be committed to providing nutrition education to the public by offering honorariums of $150 to those who would like to provide programs in their community. We will continue to have all materials on the PADA website for your use. Because the power point document is too large for the web site, I will email it to any member who requests it.  I commend the PADA Board for being so visionary in allowing we members ready made materials as well as a stipend when providing education programs in our community.

Pat Sullivan Grant Manager

patrdldn@ptd.net

Copyright© 2008, Pennsylvania Dietetic Association
Page Last Updated: October 27, 2007