Pilot Psychoeducational Intervention Model to Improve Nutritional Status in Low Resource Settings
Pilot Psychoeducational Intervention Model to Improve Nutritional Status in Low Resource Settings
The purpose of this study is to develop, implement and evaluate a psychoeducational
 intervention focused to improve nutritional status, specifically micronutrients, of mothers
 and caregivers of children between the ages of 5 and 13 years and their children through
 providing healthy cooking lessons in their communities.
Mexico's malnutrition problem goes beyond lack of food. Nutrition transition in our country
 has modified dietary patterns in a way that now we observe more and more a decrease in
 consumption of micronutrient rich foods, like vegetables, and an increase in consumption of
 high energy-dense foods with low content of micronutrients (highly processed foods). In
 Mexico, over 70% of the population presents an inadequate vegetable intake, with a higher
 prevalence in scholars (5 - 11 years), where only 17% of them consume >50% of the recommended
 vegetable intake. A vegetable poor diet is related to malnutrition, poor cognitive
 development and low physical performance. Added to this, Mexican families have lost the
 tradition of cooking at home. It is well known that different factors contribute to a
 population's diet and cooking at home as well as eating with the family have been identified
 as fundamental factors to promote a healthy diet. Therefore, the aim of this
 psychoeducational intervention in nutrition is to improve nutritional status in families,
 particularly mothers and caregivers of children between the ages of 5 and 13 years and their
 children through providing healthy cooking lessons in their communities where the optimal
 preparation and use of local foods based on vegetables is promoted at the same time the
 importance of cooking at home and eating as a family is highlighted.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age 18 to 60 years

 -  Premenopausal

 -  BMI < 45 during enrollment

 -  Apparently healthy

 -  With a child in her care between the ages of 5 and 13 years

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Pregnant or breastfeeding

 -  With a hysterectomy in the past 3 months

 -  Alcohol consumption > 14 drinks a week

 -  Use of vitamin supplements