EatFit Curriculum

Contact Information

Larissa Leavens Program Representative/Analyst | llleavens@UCDavis.edu

What is EatFit?

EatFit is designed to improve the dietary and physical activity behaviors of middle school students, as well as improve knowledge of the California Department of Education content standards for math and English-language arts. The EatFit package includes a magazine style workbook for every student, teacher curriculum, a website and dietary analysis found at www.eatfit.net, evaluation tools, slides, and marketing information. The curriculum contains nine hands-on, experiential lessons. Topics include goal setting, label reading, fast food, breakfast, exercise, energy balance and advertising. EatFit engages students in a personal self-assessment of eating and physical activity behaviors using www.eatfit.net. Based on the results, students set goals using “guided goal setting” principles. The curriculum provides skill-building activities to help reach those goals.

How to order

The EatFit workbooks are available in English. Order one per youth.

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EatFit Research

California Content Standards

Shilts M, Lamp C, Horowitz M, Townsend MS. Pilot Study: Eatfit Impacts 6th Graders’ Academic Performance on Achievement of Mathematics and English Education Standards. J Nutrition Educ Behavior 2009; 41: 127-131.

This study is important because it is the first to document nutrition education’s impact on academic performance. These results should help staff with school recruitment

Horowitz M, Shilts M, Lamp C, Townsend MS. A standards-driven evaluation of academic performance: an 8-step process for nutrition educators. J Nutrition Educ Behavior. 2008:40:401-403.

This paper should help other Coordinators/Directors with developing their own standards-driven evaluation tool.

Eatfit Development

Shilts M, Horowitz M, Townsend MS. An Innovative Approach to Goal Setting for Adolescents: Guided Goal Setting. J Nutrition Education & Behavior. 2004; 36:155-156.

We developed this new method for our curriculum Eatfit

Horowitz M, Shilts M, Townsend MS. Eatfit: A goal oriented intervention that challenges adolescents to improve their eating and fitness choices. J Nutrition Education & Behavior. 2004;36:43-44.

We use this curriculum with 6th-8th grade students in EFNEP, CalFresh and SNAP-Ed

Horowitz M, Shilts M, Townsend MS. Adapting a Diet Analysis Application for an Adolescent Audience . J Nutrition Education & Behavior. 2005;37:43-44.

We adapted the diet analysis software used by the EFNEP reporting system for our Eatfit web-based software for adolescents

Shilts M, Horowitz M, Townsend MS. Goal Setting as a Strategy for Dietary and Physical Activity Behavior Change: A Review of the Literature. American Journal Health Promotion 2004; 19:81-93.

A review of the goal setting methodological research base for Eatfit curriculum. Includes a review for adults, adolescents and children.

Bell R, Berger C, Cassady D, Townsend MS. Portrayals of Food Practices and Exercise Behavior In Popular American Films. J Nutrition Education & Behavior. 2005;37:27-32.

We used the results of this and the next studies to support Eatfit’s Lesson 8 on media.

Cassady D, Townsend MS, Bell RA, Watnik M. Portrayals of branded soft drinks in popular American movies: a content analysis. International J Behavioral Nutrition & Physical Activity 2006;3:4 (9 March 2006) BioMed Central.

Eatfit Evaluation

Shilts MK, Townsend MS. A Goal Setting Intervention Positively Impacts Adolescents’ Dietary Behaviors and Physical Activity Self-Efficacy. J Youth Development 2012; 7(4): 92-108. http://www.nae4ha.com/assets/documents/jyd_0704final.pdf

Shilts MK, Horowitz M, Townsend MS. Effectiveness of guided goal setting in a dietary and physical activity intervention with low-income adolescents. Int J Adolesc Med Health: 2009; 20(1):111-122.

Shilts M, Smith D, Ontai L, Townsend MS. Evidence to support the use of the retrospective pretest method to measure dietary behavior and self-efficacy in adolescents. J Youth Development 2008;3(1):article 080301RS002