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Nutrition education integrates culture via storytelling in cooking workshops for community nutritionists

For nutrition education to be effective in changing behavior, the message must be culturally meaningful, and the recipient must have sufficient self‐efficacy and desire to alter practices. We conducted a 6‐session cooking workshop led by a chef/performance artist with 14 nutrition students and lay health workers in January 2012. The feasibility study purpose was 1) to assess the perceived effectiveness of storytelling and creative performance in heightening awareness about culture and food; and 2) to evaluate changes in self‐efficacy and knowledge among the participants. Validated questionnaires to measure self‐efficacy, health beliefs, healthy lifestyle behaviors and dietary intakes were administered before and after the workshop series. Quantitative results indicated a high degree of self‐efficacy at start and end. Changes in the perceptions of healthy food costs, availability of healthy foods, and the time to buy healthy foods showed positive trends, but were not significant. Statistically significant pre‐post differences were found in: perceptions of ability to exercise and to engage others through storytelling; frequency of eating meals with family; and healthy eating beliefs. Qualitative interviews conducted one month later on experiences and changes since the workshop supported improvements in perceptions and behaviors. Creative activities may enhance nutrition education skills.