Fuel for Fun: Cooking With Kids Plus Parents and Play (FFF)

Penn State University, Poudre School District, Thompson School District, Rochester Institute of Technology

Fuel for Fun: Cooking with Kids Plus Parents and Play (FFF), is an integrated research, extension, and education project targeting 4th grade students. Its long-term goal of reducing the risk of childhood obesity will be addressed by promoting healthful food and activity environments, policies and behaviors through: 1) building and testing the efficacy of a 4th grade comprehensive school- and family-based intervention, 2) applying it to an after-school setting to broaden its reach, and, 3) disseminating both versions through outreach.

Fuel for Fun: Cooking with Kids Plus Parents and Play (FFF) is based on existing, evidence-based components: the experiential Cooking with Kids curriculum, the SPARK Active Recreation program; principles of behavioral economics in school cafeterias and homes; the online About Eating 5-lesson module based on eating competence concepts, and a family-based FFF component specifically designed for this intervention. Each component addresses policy and environment in addition to behavior change at school and home. The main research project - school-based FFF - will be implemented in 8 low-to-moderate income schools for two years using an asynchronous design that allows for assessment of the school-based program alone and in combination with both parent programs. Changes in fruit and vegetable intake (measured by self-report, cafeteria plate waste) and activity levels (measured by self-report and accelerometry) are primary outcomes, with measured BMI as a secondary outcome. Subsequent studies will involve the development of an after-school version and adoption of FFF by other districts. University students will gain valuable research experience and school and Extension educators will receive important childhood obesity prevention training. The project's long term goal is consistent with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) goal of improving the nation's nutrition and health by promoting the development of healthy eating and activity habits in children.

Students whose schools are randomized to this condition only receive the classroom, cafeteria and SPARK active recess components

Students whose schools are randomized to this condition receive the classroom, cafeteria and SPARK active recess components and the family component (family nights, parent blog and action packs)

Students whose schools are randomized to this condition only receive the classroom, cafeteria and SPARK active recess components and their parents are invited to participate in the online 6 lesson About Eating program.

students whose schools are randomized to this condition receive the classroom, cafeteria and SPARK active recess components and the family component (family nights, parent blog and action packs) and their parents are invited to participate in the online 6 lesson About Eating program.

students and their parents in all schools during cohort 1 and 4 (and Ponderosa students in cohort 3) are tested but provided no intervention

students receive Cooking With Kids (CWK) - Colorado cooking & tasting lessons, SPARK active recess, and Cafeteria Connections

students receive the FFF family component - family nights, parent blog, and action packs that go home after each CWK-Colorado lesson

parents who completed the parent survey are invited to access the 6 lesson online About Eating program

using observation and digital photography we will assess student selection and consumption of fruits and vegetables during school lunch; measured at the grade level

assessed 4 times each 9-month school year; once prior to intervention beginning (i.e., September), approximately 10 weeks and then 20 weeks later, and finally once after the intervention ends (i.e., May).

Using accelerometers, we will assess a week of activity; 3 of 8 participating schools have been randomized to participate in this data collection

assessed 3 times over 1 year; initially prior to the intervention beginning (i.e., September), a 2nd time once the intervention ends (i.e., May), and then again at the beginning of the following school year (i.e., September)

using a standard protocol, we will measure height and weight of all participating students and then calculate BMI z-scores

assessed 3 times over 1 year; initially prior to the intervention beginning (i.e., September), a 2nd time once the intervention ends (i.e., May), and then again at the beginning of the following school year (i.e., September)

Inclusion Criteria: all students enrolled in participating classrooms are invited to participate Exclusion Criteria: none

Once all data has been collected, analyzed and published we plan to explore how to share de-identified accelerometry data for children and adults.

Lohse B, Faulring K, Mitchell DC, Cunningham-Sabo L. A Definition of "Regular Meals" Driven by Dietary Quality Supports a Pragmatic Schedule. Nutrients. 2020 Sep 1;12(9):2667. doi: 10.3390/nu12092667.

Cunningham-Sabo L, Lohse B, Smith S, Browning R, Strutz E, Nigg C, Balgopal M, Kelly K, Ruder E. Fuel for Fun: a cluster-randomized controlled study of cooking skills, eating behaviors, and physical activity of 4th graders and their families. BMC Public Health. 2016 May 26;16:444. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3118-6.