Serious Games for Diet Change among Children

New channels are needed to reach children in ways that capture their attention and commitment. Many children play electronic games for many hours each week. A challenge is how to promote health related diet and physical activity change in an electronic game format, without being heavy handed on didactic messages. This session will present the theoretical foundations for the “Escape from Diab” videogame for diabetes prevention among 10-12 year old children, and the alpha testing that demonstrated the activities worked as expected, the children enjoyed it, and liking of components appeared to be inversely related to their perceived difficulty. Video clips from Diab will demonstrate how procedures were operationalized.

Speakers: Janice Baranowski, MPH, RD, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine; Richard Buday, FAIA, ArchImage, Inc.; Isobel Contento, PhD, Teachers College, Columbia University; Debbe Thompson, PhD, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine

Integrating Nutrition Education and Role Modeling in Early Childhood

Eating habits are a focus with more and more recognition given to the importance of early eating behaviors. With Child Nutrition Reauthorization in 2009 there is an opportunity to impact policy in the United States while reflecting on conditions and opportunities of our neighbor Mexico. Become familiar with the Head Start Nutrition Performance Standards, the approach in Mexico and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), the primary daycare food program impacting the 0-5 year old in the U.S. Join discussions that will focus on Head Start, daycare, the home, WIC and CACFP, both center based and family child care.

Speakers: Marilyn Briggs, RD, MS, SNS, Doctoral Candidate, University of California - Davis; Risa J. Jaslow, MS, RD, Head Start - New York; Ana Lourdes Islas Ramos EdD, MS, R.D, Mexican National Institute of Public Health

Southern Farms and Foodways

The agriculture and food culture of the American South have been shaped to a great extent by issues of race, class, and place. Panelists will discuss the roles played by government agencies, farmer organizations, chefs, and nutrition educators in shaping both foodways and the situation of family farmers in the South. The tensions, as well as the partnerships, between these players will be examined. A tasting of traditional Southern foods will be conducted, incorporating locally-grown ingredients.

Speakers: Bill Buchanan, USDA Risk Management Agency, Civil Rights and Community; Linton Hopkins, Restaurant Eugene; Beffie Morse, University of Georgia

Cooperative Extension Service

This session funded in part by the USDA Risk Management Agency