Advanced Cooking Education 4-H After School Program for 7th and 8th Grade Students at NYC Title I Schools

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate the effects of the Advanced Cooking Education ACE 4-H after school program on adolescents diet quality, cooking skills, and stress levels. The program is designed for 7th and 8th grade students attending Title I middle schools in New York City. The study compares outcomes before and after participation in this multi-component program that includes mindfulness, nutrition education, cooking activities, and professional development. Participants first go through a 12-week control phase with no intervention, followed by a 12-week ACE Program phase. During the intervention, students attend weekly in-person sessions after school that include mindfulness exercises, nutrition lessons or cooking labs, and professional development activities. Every two weeks, they receive groceries to prepare meals at home with their caregivers. Throughout the study, participants complete data collection sessions at 0, 12, 24, and 48 weeks. Researchers measure changes in diet quality, body measurements, culinary skills, stress, food attitudes, family mealtime beliefs, and other behavioral and health outcomes. The study monitors these factors to assess the impact of the ACE program on adolescent health and behavior over time.

Advanced Cooking Education Full Scale Study