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Nutrition Education: Linking Research, Theory, and Practice, Second Edition

Author(s): Isobel R. Contento, PhD, CDN, Teachers College Columbia University
Details:
  • ISBN-13: 9780763775087
  • Paperback    444 pages      © 2011
Price: International Sales $118.95 US List
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Overview

The role of nutrition education is to address the numerous personal and environmental influences on food choices and assist individuals in practicing healthy behaviors. Nutrition Education, Second Edition provides students with a simple, straightforward model to easily design effective nutrition education. Using a six-step process, it integrates theory, research, and practice, providing advice on designing, implementing, and evaluating theory-based nutrition education.

This book is divided into three parts:

    Part 1 provides the background; it describes the evidence for nutrition education and the theories from behavioral sciences that can guide nutrition education.
    Part 2 lays out the 6-step process for designing nutrition education; it includes diagrams, worksheets, and case studies to provide a clear illustration of each of these steps.
    Part 3 describes the nuts and bolts of providing nutrition education: leading groups; working with different ages, low-literacy groups; making presentations, making and using visuals.

Each chapter begins with a design model that illustrates which step of the 6-step process the chapter addresses, while keeping students aware of the entire process. All of the chapters provide the opportunity to practice nutrition education skills through real-life case studies and practical worksheets.

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ShowKey Features

  • Includes examples in each chapter to illustrate the key theories of the field and approaches.
  • Helps students develop their own sessions or program using the design system.
  • Provides tips on practical matters such as: how to lead groups; public speaking; how to design and use various kinds of visual materials such as hand-outs and powerpoints; characteristics of different audiences, such as children, adults, low-literacy.
  • Takes students gradually into the field of nutrition education, with the chapters building on each other.
  • Incorporates up-to-date information on the evidence of various theory-based approaches and shows how to translate behavioral theory into educational practice.
  • Focuses on developing programs to increase motivation and opportunites for people to take action on food and diet-related issues.
  • Takes a social ecological approach to provide guidance on strategies to enhance motivation, skills, and environmental supports for action.

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ShowTable of Contents

Part I  Linking Research, Theory, and Practice: The Foundations
  Chapter 1  Issues in Nutrition Education: An Introduction
  Chapter 2  Determinants of Food Choice and Dietary Change: Implications for Nutrition Education
  Chapter 3  An Overview Of Nutrition Education: Facilitating Why and How To Take Action
  Chapter 4  Foundation in Theory and Research: Increasing Awareness and Enhancing Motivation
  Chapter 5  Foundation in Theory and Research: Facilitating the Ability to Take Action
  Chapter 6  Foundation in Theory and Research: Promoting Environmental Supports for Action
Part II  Using Research and Theory in Practice: A Stepwise Procedure for Designing Theory-Based Nutrition Education
  Chapter 7  Step 1: Analyzing Food and Health Issues to Specify the Behavior or Action Focus of the Program
  Chapter 8  Step 2: Identifying Potential Mediators Of Program Behaviors and Actions
  Chapter 9  Step 3: Selecting Theory, Educational Philosophy, and Program Components
  Chapter 10  Step 4: Translating Behavioral Theory Into Educational And Support Objectives
  Chapter 11  Step 5a: Translating Behavioral Theory Into Educational Activities: Enhancing Motivation for Action
  Chapter 12  Step 5b: Translating Behavioral Theory Into Educational Activities: Facilitating the Ability to Take Action
  Chapter 13  Step 5c: Designing Strategies to Promote Environmental Supports for Action: Making Action Possible
  Chapter 14  Step 6: Planning the Evaluation for Theory-Based Nutrition Education
Part III  Research and Theory in Action: Implementing Nutrition Education
  Chapter 15  Communicating Effectively in Group Settings
  Chapter 16  Beyond Groups: Other Channels for Nutrition Education
  Chapter 17  Working with Diverse Population Groups
  Chapter 18  Nutrition Educators as Changes Agents in the Environment
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ShowAbout the Author(s)

Isobel R. Contento, PhD, CDN-Teachers College Columbia University

Isobel R. Contento, PhD has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland and an MA and PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. She is currently the Mary Swartz Rose Professor of Nutrition Education and Coordinator of the Program in Nutrition, Department of Health Behavior Studies, Teachers College Columbia University, New York City. Her research has focused on the behavioral aspects of nutrition, particularly psychosocial factors influencing food choice and behavior change in children and adolescents. Dr. Contento has been involved in the development and evaluation of many nutrition education curricula and programs. She has also served on advisory committees for the American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Institute of Medicine.

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ShowReviews

  • From Doody's Book Review

    "This book has well documented research with well laid out education theories. The author has done extensive research in the area and has prepared a book with learning objectives, examples, flowcharts, case studies, review questions, and references in each chapter. It presents a procedural model that takes behavioral theory and translates it into practical ways to implement nutrition education."

    - Lisa G Brown, BS
    College of Saint Benedict

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