����ix����

UAF CES SNAP-Ed Long-Term Impacts

PSE & Direct Education in Mat-Su:

In Spring 2024, UAF Cooperative Extension Service conducted a long-term evaluation of the SNAP-Ed Program in Mat-Su. Three participant populations were surveyed: teachers of classes that had received direct nutrition education over the past few years, food bank staff and volunteers, and food bank clients.

Teachers reported observing increased student knowledge of how to make healthy food choices, including reading nutrition labels, and increased healthy behaviors, such as choosing whole grains, less sugar and more fruits and vegetables. Teachers also mentioned that students share nutrition knowledge with others, including family members.

Food bank staff and volunteers reported that SNAP-Ed provides their clients with knowledge on making healthy food choices. Two-thirds of responses indicated that nutrition messaging displayed at the food bank greatly influences clients.

Food bank clients were asked to report on their current eating habits and look back on their habits before SNAP-Ed advised on the food bank’s layout and began providing large amounts of nutrition messaging and signage. Over half of the clients reported eating more fruits and vegetables and fewer sweets currently, with 75% reporting drinking fewer sweetened beverages. Respondents shared positive feedback on the nutrition messaging, including healthy recipes they tried and enjoyed.

See the full report.

Direct Education:

In Spring 2025, UAF SNAP-Ed conducted a long-term follow-up survey of Anchorage students who completed a series of nutrition education lessons in Fall 2024. The survey showed several healthy behaviors were maintained or improved six months after the conclusion of lessons:

• Students eating vegetables daily increased from 23% on the post-test to 35% on the follow-up. 
• Students eating fruit at least once a day increased from 56% on the post-test to 72% on the follow-up.
• Students being physically active every day increased from 46% on the post-test to 50% 
• on the follow-up.

Success Story: Mat-Su Food Bank PSE

In 2018, a partnership began between SNAP-Ed and the Mat-Su Food bank. From that time to the present, the nutrition educator provided direct and indirect education to staff and volunteers. She also worked with the food bank on assessing their organization to help implement Policy, System and Environment changes to make the healthier choice the easier Choice.

In 2022, a new facility was purchased and the Food Bank switched locations in the spring of 2023. The nutrition educator worked with staff to determine a floor plan and design for the new space. She also helped set up signage to promote the Social Marketing Campaign Every Bite Counts. 

The partner’s contributions were: 

• Space (e.g. facility, location, or space for PSE changes)
• In-person recruitment of target audiences (outreach/engagement)
• Social media
• Human resources (staff time or volunteers)

The Mat-Su Food Bank Adopted the following changes:

• Menus/recipes (variety, quality, etc.) (Food Quality, Systems)
• Increased space/amount/variety of healthy options (includes shelf space, number of booths, options on menus) (Food Quality, Environmental)
• Appeal, layout or display of snack or competitive foods to encourage healthier selections (Marketing, Environmental)
• Ongoing, point-of-decision prompts to make a healthy eating behavior choice (could include signage, taste tests, and other interactive displays) (Marketing, Environmental)
• Appeal, layout or display of meal food/beverages to encourage healthy and discourage unhealthy selections (Marketing, Environmental)
• Food/beverage or nutrition related policy (childcare wellness, school wellness, workplace wellness, etc.) (Wellness, Policy)

UAF CES SNAP-Ed still helps sustain the PSE changes adopted by the Mat-Su Food Bank by coordinating with the Food Bank staff on relevant recipes and nutrition information for clients and food boxes. As well as providing current gardening information through CES Publications and a Seed Library in the spring and summer. 

The Mat-Su Food Bank has very few staff members, all of whom are doing an amazing amount of work. The partnership with CES SNAP-Ed allowed them to implement plans and ideas that they simply did not have the time or manpower to do. CES SNAP-Ed was able to provide resources that were needed and complement the Mat-Su Food Bank’s work and mission, making a positive impact among the hundreds of Mat-Su Food Bank clients each month. 

Other Long-Term Impacts:

SNAP-Ed impacts the program staff as well. When SNAP-Ed nutrition educators and staff were surveyed during a long-term evaluation, 100% of UAF SNAP-Ed program staff reported an increase in knowledge of nutrition, meal planning and food preparation as a result of their work. Eighty-eight percent reported that they are reading nutrition labels more frequently, and 88% reported more confidence in their ability to make physical activity a habit. Sixty-three percent of staff report that these changes extend to their family and friends: they serve their loved ones more fruits and vegetables, fewer sweetened beverages and see them exercise more. The following quotes from program staff, collected during the survey, illustrate the far-reaching impacts of the SNAP-Ed program:

“I believe it has made not only me and my family healthier, but also all the students that I get the chance to teach and interact with.”

“I now make healthier food choices, both at home and when eating out, and I've learned creative ways to prepare nutritious meals — even for picky eaters. This knowledge has also helped me support my older family members in adopting healthier habits.”

“I am more aware of just how much sugar is in a soda, so my kids consume these very rarely.”