Online Program

287571
Comprando rico y sano: Promoting health-conscious shopping in Latino communities


Monday, November 4, 2013 : 12:30 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.

Paul Aguilar, MPH, Institute for Hispanic Health, National Council of La Raza, Washington, DC
A. Manuela McDonough, MPH, Institute of Hispanic Health, National Council of La Raza, Washington, DC
Susannah Senerchia, Institute for Hispanic Health, National Council of La Raza, Washington, DC
Alejandra J. Gepp, MA, Institute for Hispanic Health, National Council of La Raza, Washington, DC
INTRODUCTION: Latino populations are disproportionately affected by chronic diseases related to obesity and being overweight. Various factors contribute to this trend, some of which include lower socioeconomic status, lack of physical activity, and poor diet. APPROACH: In an effort to address this issue the National Council of La Raza's (NCLR) Institute for Hispanic Health developed a healthy shopping curriculum titled Comprando Rico y Sano. Over the course of three years, NCLR has implemented the program at twenty-two community-based organizations from its national affiliate network. Using a promotores de salud (community health workers) model, the project will have reached over 10,000 Latinos by the end of 2013. Comprando Rico y Sano includes grocery store tours and cooking demonstrations that provide concrete examples of how to use the information being shared. RESULTS: The charlas have produced a significant increase in the percentage of participants who reported being familiar with the USDA's MyPlate (78% to 98%, p<.0001). There was also a significant increase in those indicating that they were very confident that they could find healthy foods when grocery shopping (50% to 76%, p < .0001). DISCUSSION: The program has increased knowledge of healthy food choices and awareness of healthy shopping strategies. With most of the participants being responsible for food choices in their households the benefit of this program has been amplified, extending to the larger family unit.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe the need for a culturally competent and linguistically appropriate intervention to effectively promote health-conscious shopping among Latinos Identify strategies for effectively communicating information regarding nutrition and healthy food choices among Latinos Demonstrate methods to effectively encourage actions specific to health-conscious shopping (e.g., planning meals beforehand, making a list, consulting MyPlate) among Latinos

Keyword(s): Community Health Programs, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have several years of research experience, both in an academic and professional setting. Most recently, I have been the project coordinator for several projects focused on educating Latinos on various health issues. I have contributed to these from their initial, formative stages to their implementation and evaluation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.