Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Public Health

Department

Health Science and Human Ecology

First Reader/Committee Chair

Olney, Amber

Abstract

Dietary behaviors towards healthy food choices remain a major public health issue in the United States, with prevalence among low-income families. The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) with Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) trains both health educators and volunteers to provide community-based nutrition education, which prioritizes low-income families. The initiative employs the MyPlate guidelines that are composed of 5 different food groups which include fruits, vegetables, protein, grains, and dairy products. This project focuses on evaluating nutritional habits of disadvantaged families within San Bernardino County (SBC) by using an evidence-based evaluation tool known as the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) model. The study aims to assess the impact of MyPlate guidelines among adult and youth participants in the county. A pre- and post-survey of participants’ knowledge, attitude, and practice were conducted to identify program outcomes among low-income families while assessing the effectiveness of MyPlate-based nutrition education. This evaluation involved analyzing the dietary patterns of participants within the fiscal year 2025, using quantitative assessment, such as the number of individuals who enrolled and engaged in the program, their demographic distributions, frequency of balanced meal consumption by 24-hour recall, and the level of program influence on their behaviors. Further, qualitative examination measured participants’ improvement using their responses for pre- and post-survey and dietary recalls. The evaluation results revealed in this project show that participants had limited knowledge, attitudes, and practice of consuming balanced meals as indicated in pre-survey. However, at the end of the EFNEP nutrition classes, these participants demonstrated improved behaviors that follow the KAP model. Additionally, EFNEP ensured that intervention fidelity and an analytic approach were employed to enhance the curriculum and provide evidence-based policy recommendations.

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