Development of Nutrition Education Materials for Healthy Aging

Ahn, Yun; Kim, Kyung A; Kang, Hyunjoo; Kim, Kyungwon

Abstract

The objective of this study was to develop nutrition education materials for older adults, 'nutritional management for healthy aging'. A booklet and four leaflets were developed based on lesson plans. Topics of the lesson plans included eating habit assessment, Korean food guide pyramid, meal planning, eating sensibly and weight management. The titles of the leaflets were 'Eating right for healthy aging', 'Eat calcium-rich foods', 'Enjoy fruits & vegetables' and 'Weight management'. Illustrations and icons appropriate to the texts were designed using Illustrator 9.0 and Photoshop 6.0. Booklet (letter size, 5 chapters, 44 pages) and leaflets (B4 size, 6 sections) focused on modifying undesirable eating habits, providing practical tips for desirable behaviors, and behavioral modification such as recording in a food diary, goal setting and increasing self-efficacy. The drafts were pilot-tested by interviews with older adults(n=10), and minor changes were made. The characteristics of revised materials are as follows; i) materials focused on providing desirable eating behaviors for healthy aging, ii) messages were simple and specific, iii) large fonts(13 pt) were used and materials included interesting pictures and illustrations, iv) materials provided tips for balanced diets and recipes for older adults, v) materials included sections for participation of learners including assessment of nutritional risk factors and obesity, meal planning and games. The revised materials are self-explanatory and can be used by older adults and in nutrition education for older adults.