O21 (continued)

intake and meal patterns across categories of having noregular family meals, regular family meals at baseline, reg-ular family meals at follow-up, and regular family meals atboth time points. Trends across categories of regular familymeals indicated the continuity of regular family meals waspositively associated with Time 2 frequency of breakfast,lunch, and dinner for males (p�0.05) and breakfast anddinner for females (p�0.05). Among males, the continuityof regular family meals was inversely associated with Time2 fast food restaurant use (p�0.01). The continuity ofregular family meals was also positively associated withTime 2 daily intakes of vegetables, calcium-rich foods, fiber,calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, folate, vitaminsA and B-6 among both genders (p�0.05). This study sug-gests that regular family meals during the transition fromearly to middle adolescence contribute to the formation ofhealthy eating habits. Funding was provided by the Mater-nal and Child Health Bureau and the Bell Institute ofHealth and Nutrition, General Mills.

O22 Use of Motivational Interviewing by WICNutrition Professionals: Impact on TheirInteractions and Perceptions of ClientsJanice Goodwin, PhD, RD, Department Nutrition &Dietetics, 221 Centennial Drive Stop 8237, University ofNorth Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202,janice_goodwin@und.edu; Julie Zikmund, MPH, RD,Department Nutrition & Dietetics, 221 CentennialDrive, Stop 8237, University of North Dakota, GrandForks, ND 58202, juliezikmund@mail.und.edu;Diana Nastasia, MA, Department Nutrition & Dietetics,221 Centennial Drive, Stop 8237, University of NorthDakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202, diana.nastasia@und.edu

Motivational interviewing (MI) has been shown to beeffective in changing behavior in a range of clients/patientsbut little research has been conducted on its impact on theprofessionals using MI. The purpose of this study was tocompare perceptions WIC nutritionists and dietitianstrained in MI with those without such training. Ten WICnutrition professionals received over 20 hours of training inMI and then used MI with their WIC clients for the next18 months. A group of 10 WIC nutritionists, serving ascontrols, continued counseling per their usual approach.Two key interview groups were conducted, one for eachgroup. Qualitative data was coded into general themes.Comparisons, contrasts and commonalities of themes wereidentified. Both groups felt they provided important ser-vices to those in need as well as support and encouragementto their clients. Control staff primarily utilized a one-wayprocess of communication from staff to client; MI staffconceptualized a two-way communication process. Controlstaff portrayed clients in more negative terms; MI staffdescribed clients in terms of diversity of persons and artic-

ulated positive aspects of client-counselor relationships.Control staff saw their primary role as providers of resourcesand referrals to their clients while MI staff considered theirrole as supportive of their clients connecting nutritionissues to other parts of the client’s life. MI staff appearedmore client oriented while control staff focused more onthe WIC topics. Results suggest that MI results in staff whoare more client-centered. Funded by USDA WIC grantW159-03-033.

O23 Formative Research for theDevelopment of Food Friends Get Movin’with Movin’ with Mighty Moves ObesityPrevention ProgramLisa Caldwell, MS Candidate, Department of Food Scienceand Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, FortCollins, CO 80523, lcaldwel@cahs.colostate.edu;Laura Bellows, MPH, RD, Department of Food Scienceand Human Nutrition, Colorado State University,laura.bellows@colostate.edu; Susan M. Gould, PhD, RD,Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition,Colorado State University, susan.gould@colostate.edu;Jennifer Anderson, PhD, RD, Department of Food Scienceand Human Nutrition, Colorado State University,jennifer.anderson@colostate.edu

Good nutrition and physical activity are important to thegrowth and development well-being of young children andto their establishment of healthful lifestyles that preventchildhood overweight. Food Friends is a social marketingcampaign aimed at increasing children’s willingness to trynew foods. The addition of a comprehensive physical ac-tivity component to Food Friends, Mighty Moves, willenhance the program’s overall efforts to establish healthyhabits early in life. Formative research with the targetaudience: children, teachers and parents - has providedcritical insight into their wants, needs, and barriers toparticipating in physical activity. Formative research forMighty Moves was conducted through: key informant in-terviews via telephone with teachers (n�30) who haveimplemented the Food Friends program; seven focus groupswith parents (n�45) at four participating sites (2 urban and2 rural) in both English and Spanish; and interviews(n�114) with Head Start children. Both teachers andparents provided valuable insight into existing practicesand barriers. Obstacles for parents focused on time and theirneed and encouragement to be better role models. Datafrom the formative evaluation guided the development ofMighty Moves materials. Concepts and graphics were pre-tested with the audiences. All three audiences liked thesuperhero concept and graphics. Teachers (n�11) providedfurther input about specific program concepts and design ofmaterials through group discussions. Multiple taglines werepretested with additional parents (n�165). The resulting

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Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior ● Volume 39, Number 4, July/August 2007 Supplement S99