Peer Teaching Promotes Improved Knowledge and Attitudes about MyPlate and SuperTracker among College Students and Increases Self-Efficacy in Peer Nutrition Educators
Background: Peer teaching to college students can be an effective method for improving knowledge and attitudes toward healthy eating.MyPlate and SuperTracker tools are valuable resources for healthy meal planning. However, awareness and knowledge of these tools are necessary to effect change. Objective: To evaluate university students’ knowledge and attitudes about the USDA’s MyPlate icon and SuperTracker tools before and after peer teaching by a nutrition major.Design: Cross-sectional online pre and post-survey administered to participants before and after peer teaching.Participants/Setting:264 mixed majors enrolled in First Year Experience (FYE) classes at a large university were peer taught by upper class undergraduate nutrition majors on a relevant nutrition topic in 20-minute presentations that featured MyPlate and SuperTracker tools.Statistical analyses performed: Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) were used for categorical variables and parametric tests (independent paired t-test) were used for continuous variables.P<.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The majority of participants were female (68.2%), freshmen (53.8%), white (83%), and non-nutrition majors (96.2%).Both males and females indicated favorable
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