Teaching Nutrition Lessons at New Castle County Summer Camps

• Michaela Grant, Dietetics, University of Delaware

• Michelle Voegele, Cooperative Extension, University of Delaware

The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) for individuals in the United States between the ages of 2 to 18 as of 2020 was 54/100, demonstrating that the diet quality of children needs improvement. A high quality diet is important for children due to the amount of physical and mental development that occurs throughout childhood. The goal of teaching nutrition lessons at summer camps is to grow knowledge around nutrition and health in children and encourage the adoption of healthier practices. While receiving lessons through the Extended Food and Nutrition Education (EFNEP) program, summer camp children are taught safe food practices; nutrition information about different food groups; ways to incorporate physical activities into their lives; and how to make different food recipes. Retention of the information learned and demonstration of behavior change is assessed by giving the children pre- and post-surveys. The surveys ask questions about the child’s behaviors surrounding food, hygiene, and physical activity to see if behaviors had changed from the beginning to the end of the lessons. Demographic data about the children was also collected to make sure that children from different backgrounds were receiving the nutrition and health education provided. The hope is that the lessons lead to positive behavior changes around nutrition and health in children and that they are inclined to make healthier choices in the future.