Project Grant 20246701142967

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IN AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS PERSISTENTLY LOW DIETARY QUALITY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, YOUTH FOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS HAVE BEGUN TO BROADEN OUT FROM THE TRADITIONAL FOCUS ON NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TOWARD HELPING YOUTH CULTIVATE A POSITIVE, HOLISTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD THROUGH ENJOYABLE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES WITH GARDENING AND COOKING. MEASURING THE IMPACT OF THESE PROGRAMS, HOWEVER, IS CHALLENGING, DUE TO COMPLEX RELATIONSHIPS AMONG FACTORS INVOLVED IN FOOD CHOICES. FOOD LITERACY IS A CONCEPT THAT SEEKS TO CAPTURE AN INDIVIDUAL'S UNDERSTANDING OF AND ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FOOD, HEALTH, AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND MEASURING FOOD LITERACY OFFERS A METRIC FOR EVALUATING IMPACT OF FOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS. CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF FOOD LITERACY, HOWEVER, HAS PRIMARILY COME FROM AN ADULT-CENTERED PERSPECTIVE, AND AN OPPORTUNITY EXISTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND FOOD LITERACY AND ITS MOST SALIENT DOMAINS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT. WHILE CHILDREN HAVE LIMITED AGENCY OVER THEIR FOOD DECISIONS, THEY ARE NEVERTHELESS DEVELOPING DIETARY PATTERNS THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO THEIR ADULT YEARS--AND INTO A FUTURE WITH EVEN GREATER FOOD PRODUCTION CHALLENGES. AGE-APPROPRIATE FOOD LITERACY MEASUREMENT TOOLS ARE NEEDED TO INFORM THE PLANNING AND EVALUATION OF FOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND IDENTIFICATION OF POLICY STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN IN DEVELOPING HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE DIETARY PATTERNS. THIS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE GAP IN UNDERSTANDING CHILDREN'S FOOD LITERACY BY DEVELOPING AND TESTING A NOVEL QUESTIONNAIRE TO MEASURE FOOD LITERACY IN UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLCHILDREN THAT IS BASED ON A CHILD AND ADOLESCENT-CENTERED DEFINITION OF THE CONCEPT. THE QUESTIONNAIRE WILL BE TESTED WITH 4TH AND 5TH GRADE STUDENTS AT URBAN AND SUBURBAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE IT IS VALID AND RELIABLE IN THIS AGE GROUP. WE WILL ALSO COLLECT DATA ON CHILDREN'S EXPERIENCE WITH FOOD EDUCATION AND FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE AND CONDUCT ANALYSES TO UNDERSTAND RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FOOD LITERACY, FOOD EDUCATION AND FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE. THE FINDINGS FROM THIS RESEARCH WILL BE SHARED THROUGH A WIDE NETWORK OF FOOD EDUCATION AND POLICY STAKEHOLDERS TO INFORM COORDINATED PROGRAM AND POLICY APPROACHES TO IMPROVE CHILDREN'S DIETARY INTAKE.