Community-Based Participatory Research Study with Osage Nation Emphasizes Value of Braiding Cultural Food Values with Nutrition Education to Promote Healthy Eating

A recent study opens in new tab/window in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior opens in new tab/window, published by Elsevier, accentuates the value of integrating Indigenous knowledge and community perspectives into health interventions. The research addresses challenges in defining healthy eating in a culturally specific context. The study emphasizes the importance of involving local voices to develop sustainable health solutions rooted in community worldviews and values. By tailoring health education to the Osage community's specific cultural food values and context, this initiative aims to strengthen food sovereignty while promoting well-being.

Researchers employed a robust mixed methods approach to engage Osage community members in defining healthy eating. The study combined group concept mapping methodology with focus group discussions, gathering insights from 54 participants in the Go Healthy Indigenous-supported agriculture randomized control trial. These methods provided a rich understanding of the community’s healthy eating priorities, from local food access to intergenerational connectedness through food. These insights were used to develop an eight-module healthy eating curriculum that integrates practical nutrition education and cultural eating values. This framework demonstrates the power of community-based participatory research to achieve meaningful results.

The study identified five key concepts crucial to healthy eating in the Osage Nation, including food accessibility, community food values, and intergenerational connectedness through food practices. For example, participants highlighted the importance of reducing dependence on external food sources and prioritizing traditional foods grown locally. The curriculum incorporates these concepts into educational modules that blend nutrition science with Indigenous traditions, values, and worldviews to inspire sustained engagement with healthy eating.

Co-first author Tara L. Maudrie, PhD, MSPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Indigenous Health, said, “Healthy eating is deeply tied to cultural practices and values. Through this curriculum, we aim to empower the Osage community to integrate traditional foodways into their daily lives.”

Key findings underline the need for long-term strategies that combine nutrition education with tangible resources like local food distribution. By pairing education with access to fresh produce, the curriculum provides a practical pathway to improving dietary habits in a sustainable, culturally relevant way. The study's emphasis on community involvement also offers a replicable model for other historically underserved populations to define health and well-being with ideas and values that reflect their worldviews and practices. This intervention serves as a blueprint for health programs seeking to integrate cultural identity and community-driven goals into their health promotion strategies.

Dr. Maudrie further noted, “This approach not only fosters individual health but also strengthens community ties and cultural resilience.”

Notes for editors

The article is “Community-Engaged Development of a Nutrition Curriculum: The Go Healthy Indigenous-Supported Agriculture Study,” by Tara L. Maudrie, PhD, MSPH; Cassandra J. Nguyen, PhD; Susanna V. Lopez, PhD; Kaylee R. Clyma, MPH; Kristina Gabriel, BS; Jann Hayman, EdD; Addie Hudgins; and Valarie Blue Bird Jernigan, DrPH (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2024.10.003 opens in new tab/window). It appears in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, volume 57, issue 2 (February 2025), published by Elsevier.

The article is openly available at https://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(24)00473-1/fulltext opens in new tab/window.

The authors would like to acknowledge that this material project is supported by grants U54MD011240 and R01MD016191 (PI: Jernigan), which were funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Tara L. Maudrie was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award number F31DK135323. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The authors would like to acknowledge Osage Nation and Harvest Land Farms. We are grateful and inspired by the work they are doing to nourish their community and restore relational connection to food. We note that this research does not reflect the official views of the Osage Nation.

Full text of the article is also available to credentialed journalists upon request; contact Eileen Leahy at +1 732 406 1313 or [email protected] opens in new tab/window to obtain a copy or additional information. To schedule an interview with the co-first authors, please contact Tara L. Maudrie, PhD, MSPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, at [email protected] opens in new tab/window, or Cassandra J. Nguyen, PhD, University of California Davis, at [email protected] opens in new tab/window.

An audio podcast featuring an interview with Tara L. Maudrie, PhD, MSPH, and Cassandra J. Nguyen, PhD, and other information for journalists are available at www.jneb.org/content/media opens in new tab/window. Excerpts from the podcast may be reproduced by the media with permission from Eileen Leahy.

About the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB)

The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB), the official journal of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB), is a refereed, scientific periodical that serves as a resource for all professionals with an interest in nutrition education and dietary/physical activity behaviors. The purpose of JNEB is to document and disseminate original research, emerging issues, and practices relevant to nutrition education and behavior worldwide and to promote healthy, sustainable food choices. It supports the Society's efforts to disseminate innovative nutrition education strategies, and communicate information on food, nutrition, and health issues to students, professionals, policymakers, targeted audiences, and the public.

The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior features articles that provide new insights and useful findings related to nutrition education research, practice, and policy. The content areas of JNEB reflect the diverse interests of health, nutrition, education, Cooperative Extension, and other professionals working in areas related to nutrition education and behavior. As the Society's official journal, JNEB also includes occasional policy statements, issue perspectives, and member communications. https://www.jneb.org opens in new tab/window

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