Identifying Participants Who Would Benefit the Most from an Adult Food-literacy Program

Andrea Begley, Ellen Paynter, Lucy M. Butcher, Vanessa Bobongie and Satvinder S. Dhaliwal
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Andrea Begley: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth 6102, Australia
Ellen Paynter: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth 6102, Australia
Lucy M. Butcher: Foodbank Western Australia, Perth Airport 6105, Australia
Vanessa Bobongie: Foodbank Western Australia, Perth Airport 6105, Australia
Satvinder S. Dhaliwal: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth 6102, Australia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: Food literacy programs aim to improve behaviours required to achieve a quality diet. The objectives of this study were to assess the demographic, food literacy related and dietary behaviour of participants enrolling in Food Sensations ® for Adults, a free four-week food literacy program and identify the subgroup of participants who benefit most. Cross-sectional pre-program questionnaire data (n = 1626) from participants enrolling in the program was used to stratify into low, middle and high food-literacy tertiles. Factor scores from a reliability analysis of food literacy behaviours were then used to produce a composite score). Participants were 80.2% female, 56% aged 26 to 45 years and 73.3% from low to middle socio-economic areas. Demographic characteristics were not a significant predictor of the lowest composite food-literacy group. Those with the lowest composite food-literacy tertile score were more likely to have lower self-rated cooking skills, a negative attitude to the cost of healthy foods, lower intakes of fruits and vegetables and a higher frequency of consuming takeaway food and sugary drinks. Food literacy programs must focus on recruiting those who have low self-rated cooking skills, who consider healthy foods expensive and have poor dietary intakes and will most likely to benefit from such programs.

Keywords: food literacy; community participation; dietary intake (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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