Communicating Nutrition Information Paige Zaitlin Tufts University Web Strategies for Health Communication

My Focus: Organizations that communicate science- based nutrition information to different population groups using the web as a primary means of dissemination. Three Organizations: – Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (USDA) – International Food Information Council – Nutrition Source (Harvard School of Public Health)

Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP)

What is the CNPP? USDA Mission: improve the health of Americans Develop Dietary Guidelines for Americans “link scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers”

CNPP: Web Strategy Website – MyPyramid Menu Planner – MyPyramid for Preschoolers – MyPyramid Tracker – MyPyramid for Kids – MyPyramid en Español – Links to reports – Personas Podcasts Videos Facebook Twitter

CNPP: SWOT Analysis Strengths Targets multiple segments of the population All print materials available online Good teaching tools: video, PSAs, posters Personalized Major source of nutrition information Personas Bilingual Good for low income individuals who can’t afford an RD Weaknesses Video only in Windows format Not everyone has internet access Twitter MyPyramid only has 247 followers Website is very busy Opportunities RSS feeds coming soon for video Facebook not optimized iPhone app Blog Threats Other diet planning or sites tracking activity, meals, and weight loss More personalized counseling or support groups (actually in person)

IFIC Foundation

What is IFIC? The IFIC Foundation is the educational arm of IFIC. Mission: communicate science-based information on food safety and nutrition to – Professionals – Educators – Journalists – Government officials – Consumers

IFIC: Web Strategy Website – Reports – Videos: – “on the street” – FAQ – Personas – Available en Español – eNewsletter – Risk Communication Training – Tools for Effective Communication Webinars/Web Casts Twitter *IFIC states that they are in the process of redoing their website

Kidnetic.com

IFIC: SWOT Analysis Strengths Bilingual Site has clear navigation on the side Videos available on the site Webinars Twitter eNewsletter with RSS feeds Personas Site for kids Weaknesses Website is not very visually appealing Menus in strange places Publications for sale but site does not work No LinkedIn, Facebook Only 371 followers on Twitter Opportunities Webinars could be more publicized LinkedIn Facebook Podcasts could be used with webinars Blog Threats Other sites that communicate nutrition information Print publications, Peer-reviewed journals

The Nutrition Source

What is the Nutrition Source? From the Harvard School of Public Health’s Department of Nutrition Designed to provide a reputable nutrition source on the web Features lots of news from the HSPH Gives “need to know” nutrition information (“the bottom line”) Microsite within the HSPH site, also accessed through

Nutrition Source: Web Strategy Website – Nutrition in the News (Harvard news) – “What should you eat?” – Weight loss advice – A unique healthy eating pyramid “that’s actually based on the latest and best science” – Recipes for both home and food service LinkedIn: Lilian Cheung Cheung (Editorial Director) HSPH has a podcast

Their own food pyramid

SWOT Analysis Strengths Well designed website Clear and to the point, on a need to know basis Sections with the main points highlighted Reputable source Link to other reputable sources Weaknesses Possibly biased since the news is just from their institution Does not use any other social media Opportunities Social media: Twitter and Facebook Partner with or link to other institutions Blog BMI and calorie calculators eNewsletter Focus on children, or other personas Threats MyPyramid.gov and other nutrition advice sites RDs and practitioners Other university sites and extensions (

Comparison CNPPIFIC Foundation Harvard Nutrition Source Website ✓✓✓ Bilingual ✓✓ eNewsletter ✓ Webinars/casts ✓ Videos ✓✓ Podcasts ✓ HSPH only Facebook ✓ Twitter ✓✓ Media Kit ✓ Print Materials ✓✓ Nutrition News ✓✓✓ Personas/customized sites ✓✓

Recommendations: CNPP Facebook – Optimize, respond quickly to friend requests iPhone app – for MyPyramid Tracker Blog (news?) Make videos compatible with Mac Other languages besides Spanish and English Promote MyPyramid’s Twitter – Make it more prominent on the site

Recommendations: IFIC Website navigation – not very visually appealing – Menus in strange places – Make the findings of the survey more visually appealing or exciting Publications site does not work LinkedIn or Facebook Twitter is not promoted at all on the site – Could be used to publicize web casts and research Webinars could be more publicized through something like facebook Podcasts could be used with webinars Blog or RSS feeds

Recommendations: Nutrition Source Social media: Twitter and Facebook Partner with or link to other institutions’ nutrition sites (there are not that many links) Blog – Featuring nutrition experts from Harvard (such as Walter Willet) BMI and calorie calculators eNewsletter or with RSS feeds of news Have part of the site geared for kids or for other segments of the population

Questions?