Lifelong healthy eating! This is the goal of our Phase II “Eat My ABCs” mindful eating program, an evolution of our Phase I “Happy Family, Healthy Kids” program. Designed to be both sustainable and scalable, the program targets children living in poverty in rural Michigan, laying the foundation for healthy, mindful eating habits that support both nutritional health and school readiness.
“Eat My ABCs” integrates healthy eating education into Head Start programs, reinforcing key behaviors during a critical developmental window. Through children's influence on their household environments, the program also aims to improve parental feeding practices, food resource management, and the overall home food environment.
Program components:
Tasty Healthy Cookbook. A budget-friendly cookbook designed to address common parental barriers, including limited cooking skills and tight financial resources.
Eat My ABCs Child Curriculum. A teacher-delivered, age-appropriate curriculum that introduces healthy eating concepts into daily Head Start classroom routines through engaging, hands-on activities.
Child Fruit & Vegetable Letters to Parents. A weekly communication tool that bridges classroom learning and home practice by encouraging parent-child conversations and shared healthy behaviors.
Publications:
Ling, J., Zahry, N., Chen, S., Xie, Y., Lalonde, H., Robbins, L. B., & Kerver, J. M. (2025 May). A mindful eating program improved home eating environment and reduced food insecurity among rural economically marginalized families. Critical Public Health, 35(1), 2505110. https://doi.org/10.1080/09581596.2025.2505110
Presentations:
Ling, J., & Arcoleo, K. (2025, October 15). Impact of food accessibility on anthropometrics, eating habits, and home eating environment in a mindful eating intervention for parent-child dyads [e-Poster Presentation]. The Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science – Abstract Symposium, Washington DC.
Ling, J., Xie, Y., Lalonde, H., & Kao, T.-S. A. (2025, April 24-28). Dosage effects in a mindful eating intervention among economically marginalized preschoolers [Poster Presentation]. Pediatric Academic Societies, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Ling, J. (2025, March 26-29). Effects of a mindful eating intervention varied by preschoolers’ sex and weight status [Podium Presentation]. Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) 49th Annual Research Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Lalonde H., Xie, Y., & Ling, J. (2025, March 26-29). Establishing healthy habits at a young age: Satisfaction and acceptability of a mindful eating program for rural economically marginalized families [Poster Presentation]. Society of Behavioral Medicine 46th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions, San Francisco, CA.
Xie, Y., Lalonde, H., & Ling, J. (2025, January 14). Cultivating mindful eating habits among preschoolers: Assessing the impact on childhood obesity [Podium Presentation]. Improving Health Outcomes Through Preventing Childhood Obesity Conference, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Healthy Lifestars, Iowa.
Ling, J., & Robbins, L. B. (2024, October 31-November 2). A mindful eating intervention reduced childhood obesity and food insecurity among rural economically marginalized families [e-Poster Presentation]. American Academy of Nursing’s Health Policy Conference, Washington, DC.
George E., Mireku, P., & Ling, J. (2025, April 11). Positive changes in home eating environment are related to food accessibility [Poster Presentation]. University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF), Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
Pandya, A., Shaman, S., & Ling, J. (2025, April 11). Dosage effects of a mindful eating intervention on children’s anthropometrics [Poster Presentation]. University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF), Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
Norman K., & Ling, J. (2025, April 11). Food accessibility is related to preschoolers’ anthropometrics and home eating environment [Poster Presentation]. University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF), Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.