P2.196: Nourish: A Longitudinal Nutrition Program Increases Health Literacy and Behaviors in Youth

Background: Food insecurity and limited nutritional education exacerbate health disparities in underserved communities, contributing to higher risks of long-term chronic illness and diminished educational outcomes. YES Prep West Secondary school serves an economically disadvantaged student population, providing a key opportunity to address these challenges. Nourish, a year-long nutrition and cooking after-school program, aims to empower students to make healthier dietary choices, develop practical cooking skills, and sustainably improve health literacy.

Methods: Nutritional knowledge quizzes and behavioral surveys were distributed at baseline (September 2024) and mid-program (December 2024) to evaluate health literacy, dietary habits, and participation in cooking-related activities. A final survey will be administered to students in May 2025, upon completion of the program. The survey was crafted with intent to gather a broad spectrum of data, including nutrition knowledge, self-reported behaviors, confidence levels, and changes in personal preferences. Paired t-tests were used to analyze changes in quiz scores and survey responses over time.

Results: The Nourish curriculum was designed with specific objectives to be assessed throughout the program. Four months into Nourish, student consumption of high-fiber foods had a self-reported increase of 13.6% (p < 0.05). Students’ interest in cooking increased by 20.2% (p < 0.05). Confidence in trying new foods increased by 60.3% (p < 0.05), and confidence in meal preparation increased by 49.3% (p < 0.05). Self-reported enjoyment of cooking had a more modest gain of 5.8% (p=0.16).

Conclusion: Nourish significantly increased healthy eating behaviors, including consumption of high-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables. The curriculum also promoted confidence and interest in gaining technical cooking skills and sampling new foods. The enjoyment of cooking amongst students had more modest gains, highlighting changes to be made for the second half of the curriculum. These findings reflect the efficacy of targeted community-based interventions in addressing health disparities and empowering youth toward sustainable wellness.