Take Action! TimelineApplying the Stages of Change to
Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
Take Action! helps people to eat healthier by using a "stages of change" approach. Change does not happen overnight—it is a process. Take Action! helps identify where people are in the change process in order to provide information and support that will help them move to the next stage.
Determining which stages of change a majority of the participants are in will help the Program Coordinator and Team Captains better structure the Take Action! program and its components. For example, if most of the participants are in category A or B (see category descriptions below), the workshops and events should focus solely on providing participants with information on the benefits of and barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption rather than focusing on action-oriented messages. If the participants fall evenly into all of the stages of change then the Take Action! program will need to focus on a broad spectrum of topics that range from providing basic information to providing new and interesting ideas and activities for participants who have already been engaging in the behavior for some time.
Additionally, by asking the "stages of change" question on the Registration Form at the beginning of the program as well as on the Evaluation Form at the end of the program, the Program Coordinator and Team Captains will be able to determine if participants advanced to new stages of change over the 10-week time period that Take Action! was implemented. This information will help to determine the effectiveness of the program.
You can place your participants in a stage based on their response to the following fruit/vegetable consumption question on the Registration Form/Evaluation Form:
Current Nutrition Status
Read the next five statements. The letter choice each person makes corresponds to a different stage of change that reflects their interest in eating fruits and vegetables. People at different stages will have different needs for information and motivation. Rollover each item below for an explanation of the characteristics of people in each stage.
| A. | "I don't eat fruits and vegetables daily now, and I have no plans to start."People in this group do not know that they would benefit from eating more fruits and vegetables and are not thinking about eating more. The goal is to get this group to think about what they are currently doing and to begin to think about improvements they can make. People in this group are not ready for action-oriented messages. They need information about the negative effects of poor nutrition, and information about the positive benefits of a healthier diet. Workshops and written information will appeal to people in this group. |
| B. | "I don't eat fruits and vegetables daily now, but I've been thinking about starting."People in this group know they need to eat more fruits and vegetables but they just aren't ready to make that move. It is important for them to see the positive benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables versus the costs of poor nutrition. They need to be encouraged to try different fruits and vegetables (even once) to find ones they like. They need help overcoming their negative beliefs about healthy nutrition and fruits and vegetables, and they require suggestions about how to overcome barriers. People in this group will be interested in information about the benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables and ways to incorporate fruits and vegetables into their lives. Workshops and information will also appeal to people in this group. |
| C. | "I have been eating fruits and vegetables daily, although fewer than the recommended 3 1/2 to 6 1/2 cups a day."People in this group have made the decision to eat more fruits and vegetables and have started to try to do this. They are less interested in information about the benefits of fruits and vegetables and are more interested in action steps they can take to incorporate fruits and vegetables into their lives. Once people are at this stage, they are ready to make a commitment to a healthier diet. Setting goals and keeping records are especially important for people at this stage. They also benefit from group activities and from being part of a team. |
| D. | "I have been eating the recommended 3 1/2 to 6 1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables daily for less than six months."People in this stage have been eating fruits and vegetables on a regular basis for less than six months. They are learning how to make healthier eating a regular part of their lifestyle. The major risk for people at this point is relapse. Information about strategies to overcome barriers and cope with setbacks is helpful to people in this group. Teamwork can help this group overcome barriers. |
| E. | "I have been eating the recommended 3 1/2 to 6 1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables daily for six months or longer."People who have reached this stage have been eating fruits and vegetables on a regular basis for more than six months. As with people in the D category, the major risk for this group is relapse. They need to take the time to congratulate themselves about how far they have come and renew their commitment to a healthy lifestyle. They may be interested in new challenges to keep from getting bored and in helping people who are just starting out. People in this group are interested in activities that give them a chance to try something new (cooking demonstrations, new recipes), and they can make good leaders for group activities. |
©2005 California State Department of Health Services