This is an excerpt from the Live Well in Alabama FY19 Annual Report.

In FY19, Auburn University SNAP-Ed reached approximately 30,000 youth with exciting education about healthy eating and physical activity through school-based initiatives, after-school and summer programs. The flagship school-based initiative was Body Quest (BQ), a multi-level, comprehensive obesity prevention initiative, which empowered Alabama’s youth to make healthier choices and engaged parents in learning and behavior change alongside their children. Body Quest began as a theory-based, technology-driven curriculum for third graders, and has evolved into a statewide movement helping Alabama’s children and parents Live Well in Schools.

During the 2018-2019 school year, SNAP-Ed educators provided Body Quest to 5,862 third graders in 45 Alabama counties, 126 schools and 312 classrooms. All schools were SNAP-Ed eligible with more than 50% of students receiving free or reduced priced meals through the National School Lunch Program. Classes included a mix of educator-led discussion, guided vegetable tasting experiences and iPad app reinforcement lessons narrated by the anime-style Body Quest Warriors who possess super powers from eating heathy foods. All curriculum materials were developed based on the Experiential Learning Theory to be behaviorally focused and developmentally appropriate. www.LiveWellAlabama.com.

A statewide impact evaluation of BQ was conducted with schools randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. Both treatment and control groups participated in self-reported pre- and post-assessments. Treatment students and parents received an intervention between assessments. Control students and parents received delayed intervention after all assessments were completed.

Student assessments measured multiple childhood obesity prevention predictors related to nutrition. Parent assessments consisted of: (1) multiple measures of behavior important to preventing obesity and improving the home nutrition environment and (2) measures of acceptance and effectiveness of a texting program for education delivery. Data were analyzed using two-way mixed ANOVAs and McNemar’s tests.

Body Quest Makes a Difference

• Fruit and Vegetable Consumption: At the end of BQ, treatment students ate vegetables and fruits more times per day and ate a greater variety of vegetables and fruits compared to before BQ and compared to control students.
• Beverage Consumption: At the end of BQ, treatment students drank fewer sugary beverages and more water compared to before BQ and compared to control students. Also at the end of BQ, treatment students drank less whole milk and more low-fat milk compared to before BQ and compared to control students.

Body Quest Parents Eat Better, Move More and Make a Change

Body Quest engaged more than 5,000 parents with recipe testing activities and text message-based education. Simultaneously with BQ classes for students, parents joined the Recipe Tester Club and received a series of seven inexpensive, simple and kid-friendly vegetable recipes to prepare and “test” with their children at home.

Text messaging was a fun and convenient way to motivate parents to improve nutrition and physical activity practices for themselves and their families. Parents provided their cell phone numbers and received three texts each week with tips for healthy eating, shopping for healthy foods and being physically active. In addition to receiving recipes and text messages, parents received educational materials such as BQ Family Discussion Prompts for tips on talking about health with their children and Family Activity Calendars for tracking family physical activity.

At the beginning of BQ, 3,727 parents provided their cell phone numbers to receive three action-oriented, educational text messages per week. Over three-fourths (78%) of parents remained active in the texting program for the entire 15 weeks. At the end of BQ, a texting poll with participating parents (n=226) measured effectiveness of the text messages and self-reported behavior change.

Text Messaging Engages Parents to Make a Change

At the beginning of BQ, 4,465 parents provided their cell phone numbers to receive three action-oriented, educational text messages per week. More than three-fourths (77%) of parents remained active in the texting program for the entire 15 weeks. At the end of BQ, a texting poll with participating parents (n=415) measured effectiveness of the text messages and self-reported behavior change.

Body Quest Changes Behavior

Parents completed written pre- and post-assessments measuring behavior change. Treatment parents made positive changes in three main areas important to obesity prevention and improving the home environment: (1) healthy food choices, (2) sugar-free beverage choices, and (3) food resource management. Significant differences were observed in treatment parents from pre- to post-assessment and compared to control parents.

• Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
  • Eat vegetables more often
  • Eat more cups of vegetables daily
  • Eat a greater variety of vegetables and fruits
• Beverage Consumption
  • Drink fewer sugary beverages
  • Drink more low-fat milk
• Food Resource Management
  • Compare prices
  • Change meals to include budget-friendly items
  • Shop with a grocery list
  • Buy low-fat or fat-free dairy
  • Buy foods and drinks with less sugar
  • Buy foods with less salt
• BQ Text Messaging Program
  • 95% enjoyed BQ texts
  • 97% used tips provided in text messages
  • 96% noticed their child eats more fruits and vegetables, tries new foods, or both
  • 86% said their child asks them to buy vegetables
  • 76% bought more fruits and vegetables
  • 84% keep fewer beverages in their homes
  • 87% found more ways to be active with their child
• BQ Text Messaging Program Testimonials
  • “My daughter is more open now to trying new foods. She has been asking to buy more fruits and vegetables at the grocery store. Great program!”
  •  “My son loves trying new foods now! I love that he is more willing and open to new foods!”
  •  “We started drinking water and other drinks with less sugar and eating fruits as snacks.”
  •  “Our family takes long walks, plays with our dog, and has jump rope contests.”

Body Quest Schools Make a Change

Body Quest supported schools in making positive changes to create healthier school environments. Colorful, life-size character exhibits placed throughout the school encouraged students to act like Body Quest Warriors and make healthy choices. Miniature, 3D character figurines displayed on the cafeteria serving line reminded students to choose healthy foods.

Promotional efforts were just one way SNAP-Ed supported healthy environments in BQ schools. SNAP-Ed educators leveraged strong partnerships with 78 schools to facilitate positive changes, reaching more than 30,000 students.

SNAP-Ed partnerships with Body Quest schools resulted in implementation of 1 policy change, 12 systems changes, 112 promotional efforts.

• • Policy changes established or improved school wellness policies and eliminated soft drinks at school-based day camps.
  • Systems changes increased availability of fresh, local produce in school cafeterias.
  • Environmental improvements established, reinvigorated or sustained edible school gardens and improved access to safe walking and biking paths to schools.
  • Promotional efforts provided tastings and signage placed throughout the school encouraging students to make healthy choices.

Quest for Healthy Schools

Making healthy food choices and physical activity opportunities priorities at school is critical. Research shows kids who have healthy eating habits and get regular physical activity are more likely to have better academic performance, attendance, self-esteem, classroom behavior and lower obesity rates. As part of a new initiative called Quest for Healthy Schools, SNAP-Ed educators encouraged principals, teachers, school staff, and community members to develop school wellness committees, each committed to improving the health and wellness policies and practices in Alabama schools. In FY19, SNAP-Ed educators led 3 committees through completion of school wellness assessments and action plans that impacted 949 students and staff.

Learn More

• Live Well in Alabama: FY19 Annual Report
• Live Well in Communities: Positive changes spread across Alabama for a healthier culture
• Live Well Alabama: Making a change with social marketing
• Awards, Publications, Recognitions, and Presentations

Download a printable PDF of FCS-2391 SNAP-Ed FY19 Annual Report

Download a printable PDF of FCS-2302 SNAP-Ed FY18 Annual Report.

Download a printable PDF of FCS-2227 SNAP-Ed FY17 Annual Report.

Click here to view the USDA Nondiscrimination Statement.