Parent Outreach Changing the food environment The missing piece Parents are a strong influence on children. A nutrition education plan without considering parents is incomplete.

Parent Outreach Changing the food environment Other important pieces Mental health Housing Safety Food insecurity Social Justice Health Equity and more….

Parent Outreach Changing the food environment What foods are available. Where foods are available/transportation Price of the foods Advertising and Promotion of foods All these factors influence the choices we make.

Parent Outreach Changing the food environment Parental modeling: A Key factor that affects child’s food intake and physical activity. Best approach: positive role model High degree of parental control=low self control in children

Parent Outreach Changing the food environment The realities of low income parents Lack of usable information about nutrition. Many parents are busy, stressed and overworked, making healthy cooking challenging. Cultural/legacy foods sometimes are unhealthy; need alternatives or substitution strategies. Many Parents are not “doing the right things” themselves when it comes to PA and nutrition.

Parent Outreach Changing the food environment The realities of low income food environments Underserved communities lack the healthy food options and safe places to play and exercise compared to more affluent communities. Food marketing and easy availability create strong desires for unhealthy foods The cost of healthy foods can be a barrier to consumption.

Parent Outreach Changing the food environment nutrition/cooking classes Cooking and gardening classes: an effective way to engage parents and children together.

Parent Outreach Changing the food environment nutrition/cooking classes

Parent Outreach Changing the food environment Gardening classes

Parent Outreach Changing the food environment Media: Radio and TV Radio and TV are excellent tools to be used to change the food environment. Partnerships with local community Radio Programs or Public Access TV is a good way to start.

Parent Outreach Changing the food environment puppets and media

Parent Outreach Changing the food environment NEXT STEPS: Continue with nutrition/consumer education for the families. Identify areas of improvement in the food environment. Work together with families, community agencies and retail stores to make these improvements happen.

Parent Outreach Changing the food environment Conclusion Creating food environments that motivate and support individuals to follow nutrition recommendations should make it easier to achieve long-term, broad-based improvements in eating trends. Community participation is IMPORTANT, but the challenge is to take the first step by bringing the right people to the table.

Parent Outreach Changing the food environment Oscar Guardado Bilingual Health Educator Nutrition Wellness Program Health and Human Services County of Marin 415-473-6731 oguardado@co.marin.ca.us