Educational Participation and Dietary Changes of EFNEP Homemakers in Louisiana

Are dietary levels of homemakers participating in a nutrition educational program influenced by length of participation? By the kind of learning experience they are involved in? By the intensity of the learning exposure? These questions were examined in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) in Louisiana to see how diets changed over a 12‐month period. Homemakers were instructed through personal visits and meetings. Consumption of the basic four food groups was found to increase in the first 2 to 4 months, then reach a plateau. Other studies in Louisiana indicated a drop, either to former or slightly higher than former levels, when the educational effort was discontinued. Visits and meetings had about the same effect on diet changes, but more people were reached through meetings. Intake of two food groups correlated positively with frequency of visits or meetings. The findings suggested the need for a continuing education program using a variety of teaching procedures, combined with better tools for evaluating effectiveness of the educational effort. 1973 American Association of Family and Consumer Science