Strategy and Curriculum | Healthy Habits Progr

A Multilevel Influence Approach

Nourishing Minds promotes healthier eating habits and reduces barriers to balanced nutrition among sorority women at Emory University by utilizing the socioecological framework. This framework addresses individual, interpersonal, and community levels of influence to ensure participants have the skills, motivation, and support needed to sustain long-term dietary changes.

Individual: Nourishing Minds empowers participants to build knowledge, confidence, and skills through interactive workshops and supplementary resources. In-person workshops provide hands-on opportunities to develop meal-preparation skills, understand portion control, and learn about the nutritional value of foods, all of which align with Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) by fostering self-efficacy (Bandura, 1986). Participants receive take-home materials, including recipe cards, shopping lists, and meal-planning guides, to encourage continued use of learned strategies in their daily routines. The Health Belief Model (HBM) is applied at this level by addressing perceived risks, such as chronic disease and fatigue, and emphasizing the benefits of balanced nutrition, like improved energy and focus (Glanz et al., 2015). The program also provides solutions to barriers such as time constraints and cost by offering affordable recipes and quick meal ideas (Rimer & Glanz, 2005).

Interpersonal: The program integrates peer collaboration to foster social support and reinforce positive eating behaviors. Events such as “Build Your Own Balanced Snack” encourage participants to share ideas, observe healthy behaviors modeled by peers, and build a sense of community (Bandura, 1986). Accountability partnerships are introduced to help participants set and achieve shared nutrition goals. The HBM’s cues to action are applied through group challenges, public recognition, and peer-led activities that motivate participants to adopt healthier behaviors (Glanz et al., 2015). These strategies leverage social influences to create a supportive network that helps participants sustain their new habits.

Community: At the community level, Nourishing Minds addresses environmental barriers to healthy eating by collaborating with Emory’s dining services and local food retailers. These partnerships ensure the availability of five new grab-and-go healthy food options, which are promoted through targeted campaigns using posters, social media, and email outreach (McKenzie et al., 2023). These efforts align with the HBM by providing cues to action, such as visible promotional materials, while also addressing perceived barriers, like the affordability and accessibility of healthy options (Glanz et al., 2015). By creating a healthier campus food environment, the program ensures participants have the structural support needed to maintain their dietary changes.

Theory-Based Strategy

The Nourishing Minds program targets sorority women at Emory University who face unique barriers to healthy eating, including limited time, social pressures, and reliance on processed snacks. Grounded in the Health Belief Model (HBM) and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), this program is designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and social support needed to adopt and sustain balanced dietary behaviors.

The program incorporates evidence-based strategies to address cognition and behavior change along key theoretical dimensions:

Perceived Risk of Poor Nutrition: Workshops highlight the long-term risks associated with poor eating habits, including chronic disease, weight gain, and fatigue. Activities in these sessions aim to increase awareness of how current dietary choices may negatively impact participants’ health and quality of life (Jones et al., 2014).

Perceived Benefits of Balanced Nutrition: Participants learn the immediate and long-term advantages of a healthier diet, such as improved energy levels, academic performance, and mental well-being. For instance, Workshop 1 educates participants on the benefits of nutrient-dense meals, emphasizing how simple dietary changes can yield tangible health benefits (Glanz et al., 2015).

Perceived Barriers to Healthy Eating: The program addresses common challenges such as cost, time constraints, and lack of cooking skills. Workshops provide practical tools, including shopping lists, affordable recipes, and tips for quick meal preparation. These strategies aim to reduce psychological and logistical barriers to healthy eating (Rimer & Glanz, 2005).

Cues to Action: Social and environmental cues are embedded throughout the program. Interactive events such as “Build Your Own Balanced Snack” offer participants immediate opportunities to apply their skills in a supportive group setting. Promotional campaigns, including social media and email outreach, raise awareness about new healthy food options available on campus, further reinforcing behavior change (McKenzie et al., 2023).

Self-Efficacy: Consistent with SCT, the program fosters self-efficacy by engaging participants in hands-on workshops and interactive events. Activities like meal prepping, portion control practice, and group challenges enable participants to build confidence in their ability to make healthier dietary choices (Bandura, 1986).

Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Prentice-Hall.

Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (2015). Health behavior: Theory, research, and practice (5th ed.). Jossey-Bass.

Jones, C. L., Jensen, J. D., Scherr, C. L., Brown, N. R., Christy, K., & Weaver, J. (2014). The health belief model as an explanatory framework in communication research: Exploring parallel, serial, and moderated mediation. Health Communication, 30(6), 566–576. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2013.873363

McKenzie, J. F., Neiger, B. L., & Thackeray, R. (2023). Planning, implementing, and evaluating health promotion programs: A primer. Pearson.

Rimer, B. K., & Glanz, K. (2005). Theory at a glance: A guide for health promotion practice. National Cancer Institute. NIH Publication.

Strategies to Reach Objectives

Nutrition Education

The curriculum component includes two 90-minute workshops designed to enhance participants’ knowledge and confidence in making balanced dietary choices. These workshops focus on practical meal preparation, portion control, and addressing common barriers such as time constraints and cooking skills. Participants leave with hands-on experience and educational materials, including recipe cards and meal-planning guides, to support ongoing application of skills.

Social Support

Interactive events like the “Build Your Own Balanced Snack” series complement the workshops by fostering a sense of community and peer collaboration. Participants engage in group activities to assemble healthy snacks, share tips, and model positive dietary behaviors. Accountability partnerships and group challenges are introduced to maintain motivation and promote sustained healthy eating habits.

Environmental Support

Collaborations with Emory’s dining services and local food retailers aim to increase access to nutritious options on campus. Five new grab-and-go items are introduced at dining locations and local retailers, accompanied by targeted promotional campaigns using flyers, posters, and email outreach. These efforts ensure that healthy choices are both visible and accessible, reducing reliance on processed snacks.

Program Curriculum

The Nourishing Minds program includes two structured 90-minute workshops and five informal 60-minute events designed to promote balanced nutrition, meal preparation skills, and peer collaboration. These components provide participants with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to make and sustain healthier dietary choices.

Workshops

Workshop 1: Principles of Balanced Nutrition and Meal Preparation
This workshop introduces participants to the foundational principles of balanced nutrition, including understanding macronutrient proportions, portion control, and the importance of incorporating a variety of food groups. Participants will learn practical strategies to address barriers such as limited time and cooking skills. Hands-on activities guide participants in creating simple, nutritious meals using accessible ingredients. By the end of the session, participants will gain confidence in their ability to make healthier dietary choices.
Workshop 2: Quick and Affordable Meal Ideas and Overcoming Barriers
This workshop builds on the principles introduced in Workshop 1 by teaching participants how to prepare quick, affordable, and portable meals. This session focuses on overcoming common challenges such as busy schedules, cravings for processed snacks, and limited budgets. Participants will learn meal-prepping strategies and explore affordable, nutritious food options available on campus and in the local community.
Participants will leave with the knowledge and tools to implement meal-prepping strategies into their routines.

Informal Events

The program includes five informal 60-minute events designed to reinforce program concepts, foster peer collaboration, and provide practical skills:

Build Your Own Balanced Snack: Participants create balanced snacks using a variety of provided ingredients. Activities include pairing fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains, with real-time feedback from facilitators.
Meal Prep Party: Participants engage in group meal preparation, portioning meals using provided recipes and containers while learning time-saving meal prep techniques.
Healthy Hydration Challenge: Participants prepare personalized infused water recipes and discuss strategies to reduce sugary drink consumption.
Quick Breakfast Building Session: Participants assemble quick, nutritious breakfast kits, such as overnight oats and smoothie packs, while learning time-efficient preparation methods.
Snack Swap Night: Participants identify healthier snack options by evaluating the nutritional content of common processed snacks and sharing favorite healthy recipes.

Click here for Food pairings worksheets