This web site has free downloadable handouts for parents and consumer education, PowerPoint presentations for lay and professional audiences, a lesson plan on family meals for community nutrition groups, and a video based online training for community nutrition professionals and paraprofessionals. All of these were developed by Barbara Mayfield and are available through Purdue University’s Center for Families.
- Pilot Tested
Two rounds of pilot testing included WIC, FNP, and EFNEP parents as well as a smaller group of PTA members for the school-based materials. There was a second pilot test with parents of children enrolled in Purdue's child development lab schools.
The “Promoting Family Meals” website includes resources divided into three sections: resources for community nutrition programs, resources for schools and community groups, and resources for parents.
One of the major resources is a staff training video designed to teach educators how to empower parents to make meal time family time. Activities encouraged are behavior oriented including role playing and goal setting. An accompanying study guide is also available.
A class outline, handouts, worksheets posters, and evaluation forms are provided as well. Handouts include a brochure with information about family meals and a place for parents to set goals for their own families. Other handouts include a family meals worksheet for individual assessment, a handout comparing the time and food cost of fast food versus a home cooked meal, and a family meals planning calendar. The web site also includes PowerPoint presentations for each resource section (parents, schools, and community groups).
All sections contain feedback and survey documents that can be returned to the Department of Foods and Nutrition at Purdue University. A reference list and links to other websites are also available.