A Rewards Program Contributing to Healthier Eating in Restaurants & Schools

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究将扩展、实施和评估一个以餐馆为基础的激励计划，该计划为学校提供资金，以支持学校健康倡议（如体育活动、营养教育和更健康的午餐计划），同时鼓励和奖励餐馆的健康饮食行为。这个项目是有史以来第一个探索利用学校激励作为促进儿童和家庭健康行为的工具的研究。该提案建立在以前由CDC和NIH授予申请公司健康餐饮的SBIR拨款的基础上。第二阶段奖励计划的目标包括：1)将奖励计划扩展到加州的学校和餐馆；2)衡量家庭对该计划的认知度和参与度的提高、学校促销活动带来的餐厅销售额以及餐厅为健康计划向学校提供的资金；3)在第三阶段制定在全国范围内推广该计划的战略。学区领导、当地家长会和其他组织将通过学校的沟通渠道向孩子和家长推广奖励计划。这项奖励计划在全国范围内的长期实施将产生大量的资金来自餐馆的销售，以帮助支持学校的健康计划。此外，这一提议有可能显著改善我国家庭的健康状况，因为它将激励餐馆提供和选择更健康的选择，并有助于预防和控制儿童和成人的肥胖和其他与营养相关的健康风险。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This research will expand, implement and evaluate a restaurant-based incentive program that provides funding to schools to support school Wellness Initiatives (such as physical activity, nutrition education, and healthier lunch programs) while encouraging and rewarding healthy eating behaviors in restaurants at the same time. This project represents the first study ever to explore the use of incentives to schools as a vehicle fo increasing healthful behaviors of children and families. This proposal builds on previous SBIR grants awarded by CDC and NIH to the applicant company, HEALTHY DINING. The goals of the Phase II REWARDS PROGRAM include: 1) expanding the REWARDS PROGRAM to schools and restaurants throughout California; 2) measuring increased awareness and participation by families in the program, restaurant sales generated by the school promotions, and funds made available from the restaurants to the schools for the Wellness Initiatives; and 3) developing strategies to expand the PROGRAM nationwide during Phase III. School district leaders, local PTA and others will help promote the REWARDS PROGRAM to both children and parents through the schools' communication channels. Long term implementation of this REWARDS PROGRAM nationwide will result in significant funding being generated by restaurant sales to help support school Wellness programs. Additionally, this proposal has the potential to significantly improve the health of our nation's families, as it will incentivize the availability and selection of healthier choices at restaurants and contributes to the prevention and control of obesity and other nutrition-related health risks in both children and adults.