New Visions from Different Angles: Innovative Methods and Perspectives for Nutrition Educators and Researchers

Discuss the use of innovative qualitative techniques for conducting nutrition research and interventions. Use of inexpensive anthropological software will be demonstrated. These approaches can be used when working with food, culture, and basic nutrition ideas in classrooms and with individuals and families. Participants will gain an understanding of tools and perspectives gleaned from anthropology and related disciplines; and learn fresh ways of looking at the people and concepts they work with every day in nutrition education and research.

Speakers: Ashley Aakesson, MAA, Applied Anthropology, Children's Nutrition Program of Haiti; Laura Hutchinson; Karol A. Chandler-Ezell, PhD, Stephen F. Austin University

Lights! Camera! Action for Health

Wellness initiatives need to incorporate creativeschool-wide approaches to reach school-aged children. During our session we will:

1. Discuss the system-wide Wellness Initiative Project being implemented in Atlanta Public Schools with funding from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation;
2. Examine research findings using innovative approaches to successfully communicate health messages in school-based settings; and
3. Provide examples from our own work in theater, Lil' Red Ridin' Thru ‘Da Hood and Healthy 4 Life.

Hear how our project outcomes show the use of innovative approaches in urban school settings is successful in promoting health messages to low-income African-American children and their families.

Speakers: Marsha Davis-Hearn, PhD, University of Georgia; Marilyn Hughes, PhD, RD, LD, Atlanta Public Schools; Caree J. Jackson , MS , RD, University of Georgia; Rebecca M. Mullis, PhD, RD, LD; University of Georgia

Cultural Shift? Implementing and Evaluating School Nutrition Policy

What is required to implement and evaluate school nutrition policies? Can schools do it on their own or does it require a cultural shift among families, schools, and communities? Panelists will reflect on these questions while sharing their evaluation of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's implementation guide for Nutrition Standards for Healthy Schools, and the World Health Organization's recent technical paper on school nutrition policies. Participants can compare their experiences, identify strategies for policy implementation and evaluation, and reflect on cultural conditions needed to support healthy eating in schools.

Speakers: Roger D. Hanagriff, PhD, Agricultural Business & Sam Houston State University Rodeo Coach; Mary McKenna, PhD, RD; University of New Brunswick ; Tim Murphy, PhD, Texas A&M University ; Terry O'Toole, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention