Presenter
Lindsey Plumb
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
2026
Abstract
Healthy Starts: Cooking, Culture, and Confidence for Healthier Families is a culturally tailored nutrition intervention designed for pediatric patients and caregivers served by the Nutrition Teaching Center at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. The program addresses high rates of childhood overweight and obesity, food insecurity, and low caregiver confidence in meal preparation among racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse families. Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory, Healthy Starts focuses on building practical cooking skills, nutrition knowledge, and self-efficacy through bilingual, hands-on cooking classes, family nutrition workshops, and peer support circles. Sessions emphasize preparing affordable, culturally familiar meals while accommodating religious and dietary practices. Families also receive resource navigation support for WIC, SNAP, and local food access. Program evaluation includes pre- and post-assessments of caregiver nutrition knowledge and cooking self-efficacy, 24-hour dietary recalls, BMI data, and participant satisfaction surveys, supplemented by focus groups. By translating nutrition education into real-world skills and addressing environmental barriers, Healthy Starts aims to promote sustainable healthy eating behaviors, improve child diet quality, and reduce reliance on ultra-processed foods.
Faculty Mentor
Nader Hamdi Ph.D., RDN, LDN
Academic Discipline
College of Health & Wellness
Repository Citation
Plumb, Lindsey, "Healthy Starts: Cooking, Culture & Confidence" (2026). Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium. 329.
https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/innov_symposium/329
