PARTNERS | HEALTHY CITY  | HOW HEALTHY | VISION | SUMMIT | PRIORITIES | FUNCTIONS | CITY OF FALL RIVER

Pick a Better Snack Program
Action Plan Participant:
Massachusetts Extension Service and Fall River Schools

The Pick a Better SnackTM Program is a social marketing campaign aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among children by switching high-fat, empty-calorie snacks they may be eating with nutrient-dense, low or no-fat fruits and vegetables. The U-Mass Extension Service program, part of the Massachusetts 5-A-Day Coalition, will develop a program for second graders in Fall River Schools beginning in October.

 
Priority Area:  Health Education 
Priority Sub-Area:   

3, A) Nutrition and diabetes education

Goal:

To increase the number of people who live or work in Fall River who consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

Method(s):

Use the “Pick a Better Snack” curriculum from the Iowa Nutrition Network to educate second grade students and parents in 10 schools
Timeline:          

October 2004 through May 2005
Indicators:       

Increase in fruit and vegetable consumption during school meals. Increase in fruit and vegetable consumption as snack at home and in school
Progress: The UMASS Extension program, working in collaboration with the Fall River Public Schools’ Health Education Department, has presented the “Pick a Better Snack Program” to all second grade students in ten elementary schools.

How citizens can  get involved:

Community support from major grocery stores and neighborhood restaurants to further promote the concept to the community, Parents attending the special parent nights to reinforce the program
Contact Information:

Pat Bebo, U-Mass Extension Nutrition Education Program (Affiliated with U-Mass-Amherst), 508-998-2200 or pbebo@umext.umass.edu