Pictorial instrument of food and nutrition education for promoting healthy eating

Abstract

To trace the course of building a pictorial instrument that explores semiotic resources about food and nutrition education. The instrument is directed at the treatment and prevention of obesity, considering the food and nutrition problems of the Brazilian population. The criteria for photo production were: images that could cause visual impact and transmit applied nutrition information, insinuating positive and negative eating practices for promoting healthy eating, and preventing and treating obesity. Themes were created to guide photo production, and preparations, food composition tables, and food labels were used for composing the images. Focus groups were conducted with nonobese and obese women, and dietitians to evaluate image comprehension. The pictorial instrument totaled to 20 photos, with 5 photos in each of the following themes: 'Sweet life, being aware of sugar', about sugar content in sweets and drinks; 'Tasty food with little fat', about fat content in foods; 'Eating well by making the best choices', about food replacements; and 'I take care of myself by eating healthy food, about encouraging fruit and vegetable intakes. The photos contain food, meals, and semiotic resources. The pictorial instrument describes four relevant themes to approach food problems in the Brazilian population. It can easily be used for both preventing and treating obesity, and for promoting healthy eating.

Effects of a nutritional intervention using pictorial representations for promoting knowledge and practices of healthy eating among Brazilian adolescents

“…The use of pictorial representations as part of the educational activity was particularly relevant for the positive results obtained in the present study. Other authors using images or photographs in nutritional interventions have also obtained positive results in different populations [ 7 , 8 , 34 ]. In a review of studies of food and nutrition education for Brazilian students, Ramos et al [ 4 ] highlighted the frequent use of non-participatory activities, exposing a gap between theory and practice as well as a disregard for the subjectivity involved in dietary choices.…”

“…Additionally, food- and nutrition-related activities should be particularly attractive, considering that today’s adolescents live in a computerized, dynamic, and visually attractive environment. In this respect, pictorial representations are promising tools to attract attention to health educational materials [ 7 ]. Examples of pictorial representations that may be useful in nutritional interventions include photographs of food, food models made of plastic or similar material, and images accompanied by captions or verbal guidance (pictorial cues) that are able to capture attention and arouse curiosity, stimulating reflection and discussion about the content [ 7 – 9 ].…”

“…In a Brazilian study of adult women, activities to promote healthy eating included the use of photographs of foods and meals. The images were used to address topics involving the amount of sugar and fat present in food, healthy food substitutions, and fruit and vegetable consumption [ 7 ]. For adolescents, a nutritional intervention to promote healthy dietary practices is currently under way in Brazil [ 10 ].…”

Tailored smartphone intervention to promote healthy eating among Brazilian adolescents: a randomised controlled trial protocol

“…In a subsample of GG and TG, memorisation of the healthy eating messages will be assessed through a questionnaire based on a previously tested instrument for measuring content memorisation. 33 This step will occur approximately 1 month after the end of the intervention.…”

Impact of Software for Mobile Devices on the Behavior of Adolescents in Obesity Prevention

“…To show the amount of sugar in some sweets and drinks and provide notions of weight gain in the short and long term, based on the daily consumption of these foods; compare complete meals and usually consumed foods with other foods and preparations of high caloric value and low nutritional value; to stimulate the consumption of fruits and vegetables, the Imaging tool of dietary and nutritional education was used to promote healthy eating. 17 To work with behavioral nutrition, the concept of…”