Center for Nutrition, Diet and Health

4200 Connecticut Avenue NW | Washington, DC 20008 | 202.274.7124 | udc.edu/causes

CNDH:ExpandedFoodandNutritionEducationProgramThroughapartnershipwithDistrictofColumbiaPublicSchools(DCPS),CNDHoffersworkshopstoteenparents.TheExpandedFoodandNutritionEducationProgram(EFNEP)isaresearch-basednutritionprogramfundedbyNationalInstituteofFoodandAgricultureoftheUSDAandofferedfreeforthosewhoareeligible.Theprogramteacheshealthylifestylechoicestolow-incomeyouthandfamilieswithyoungchildren.NewHeightsTeenParentsProgram,AnacostiaSeniorHighSchool

OneofourpartnersinthisprogramisAnacostiaSeniorHighschoolinWard8whereCNDHeducatorsteachstudentshowtopreparehealthymealsfortheirfamilies.TheNewHeightsTeenParentsprogramisaschool-basedinitiativethatengagesexpectantandparentingstudentsin13DistrictofColumbiaPublicSchools.Theprogramseekstoimprovetheattendanceandgraduationratesofthesestudentstopreparethemforcollegeorcareers,andpreventsubsequentpregnancies.Toparticipate,thestudentmustbeenrolledinDCPSandbeanexpectantorparentingstudent.Notjustajob,EFNEPispersonalforprogramcoordinatorJamesLee,whoisanativeWashingtonianandproductoftheDCPS.“TheNewHeightsprogramprovidesanopportunityforanutritioneducatortochangeandimprovethedietofthemotherwhileteachingherhowtomakehealthyfoodchoicesforherinfant.WithEPNEP,wehaveachancetoinfluenceanentirehousehold,”explainedLee,whoisalsoagraduateofUDC’sNutritionandFoodScienceprogram,andhasaMasterofScienceinPublicandCommunityHealthfromTrinityWashingtonUniversity.

OveraseriesofworkshopsheldduringAnacostia’slunchperiodduringthe2013-2014academicyear,CNDHChefTyrome“ChefT”HensontaughttheNewHeightsstudentshowtomakesimple,healthymeals.NotonlydidChefTintroducethestudentstonewfruitsandvegetables,healsotaughtthemhowtomakemealsusingingredientswhichmostlikelycanalreadybefoundintheirhomes.“Ourgoalistomakeanimpactandtochangetheireatinghabits,”explainedChefTyromeHenson.TheEFNEPprogramalsoteachesstudentshowtoshopforfreshproduce,acommontaskthatisnotalwaysgivenforresidentsofWard8,oneofD.C.’sfooddeserts.OutreachprogramsliketheCNDH/NewHeightspartnershiphelptopromotefoodsecurity,ortheavailabilityandaccessibilitytohealthyfood.

“Ithinkunhealthyeatinghabitsarelearnedbehaviorsthatstartatchildbirth.Ifthemothereatsunhealthily,shepassesitontoherinfant,”statedLee.ThistypeofcollaborationisimportanttoWard8,whichasafooddesert,doesnothaveaccesstofreshandnutritiousfood.Residentsoffooddesertsareoftensuppliedbyinexpensivefastfoodvenues,resultinginfoodrelatedhealthissuesincludingobesity,hypertensionanddiabetes.AccordingtotheWashingtonPost,37.4percentoftheDistrict’shouseholdswithchildrenareunableto

affordfood,arateamongthehighestinthecountry.Thesehouseholdsarefoodinsecure,whichmeanscuttingmealsandnothavingenoughtoeatonadailybasis,oftenleadingtohealthissues.“TherearemanypreventablediseasesinAnacostiathataredirectlyrelatedtohealthandnutrition,”explainedMichelleVictoriaBellard,programcoordinatorfortheAnacostiaNewHeightsTeenParentProgram.NewHeightsparticipantslearnnewandhealthywaysofcooking,howtoreadrecipesandhowtopresentfood.Thesenewly-learnedskillswillservethestudentsfortherestoftheirlives.Anotherbenefitisthatbylearningtocookforthemselves,thestudentsdonothavetorelyonparentsandgrandparents.“Thisclasshastaughtmehowtoeatright,”commentedoneoftheparticipants.“Ieathealthiernow,andsodoesmyfamily.”Additionally,thestudentsareabletousecookingasawaytospendtimewiththeirchildrenastheyusetheknowledgegainedthroughEFNEPworkshops.“Thestudentsarelearningtoappreciatetheoneononetimecookingoffersthemwiththeirkids,”explainedCiattaRamble-Savoy,NewHeightsAnacostiaprogramcoordinator.

ToCAUSES,healthyeatinghabitsareanimportantpartofourqualityoflifeandourwell-being.ItisourmissiontomeasurablyimprovethequalityoflifeandeconomicprosperityofpeopleandcommunitiesintheDistrictofColumbia,andtheCNDH/NewHeightscollaborationdoesjustthat.“Atitsheart,CAUSESstandsforimprovingthequalityoflifefortheresidentsoftheDistrictofColumbia,”explainedDr.SabineO’Hara,deananddirectoroflandgrantprograms,CAUSES.“Thereisnosealofapprovalgreaterthanseeingthesestudentslearninghowtoeathealthieratschool,andknowingtheyaregoinghomeandpassingthoselessonsalongtotheirchildren,parentsandgrandparents.”

Justconcludingitssecondyear,thesuccessfulNewHeightscollaborationisexpectedtocontinueduringtheupcomingacademicyear.WatchthisCAUSESTVepisodetolearnmoreabouttheNewHeights/CNDHcollaboration.EFNEP'sImpactTheExpandedFoodandNutritionEducationProgramcanbefoundthroughouttheDistrict,asareCNDHcommunityeducators."IlikeworkingforCNDHandhelpingpeoplearoundthecity,"saidDoratheaSimpkins,anotherCNDHspecialist.OneofherrecentsessionswasataWard8summercamp,whereparticipantsrangingintheagesfrom6-13andlearnedhowtomakehealthyhomemadeicecream--acoolrefreshmentintheblisteringD.C.Summerheat!

TheimpactoftheEFNEPprogramhasalongreach:• 100%reportednoweatavarietyoffoods(fruits,vegetables,andwholegrains).• 76.0%reportedusingthe“NutritionFacts”onthefoodlabeltomakefoodchoices.

• 53.0%reportedincreaseinmoderateactivitydaily(30-60)minutes.• 72.7%decreaseintakeofsolidfatsandaddedsugar.Andit’snotjusttheparticipantswhogainfulfillmentfromEFNEP."Nutritionismypassion.ThisisagreatopportunityformetotakewhatI'velearnedandeducatingpeopleinreturn,"explainedHelenNaylor,a2014graduateofUDC'sNutritionandDieteticsprogramwhonowworksforCNDH.FormoreinformationontheCenterforNutrition,DietandHealth,visitwww.udc.edu/causesorcontactProgramDirectorDr.LillieMonroe-Lordatlmonroelord@udc.edu.FormoreinformationonEFNEP,contactProgramAssistantJamesLeeatjlee@udc.edu.