Table 5 Overview of the peer support group-based intervention content to encourage dietary change to a Mediterranean Diet
Session | Delivered | Session topic | Session objectives | Core elements | Resources delivered by peer supporters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | FIRST SESSION | CHANGING TO A MEDITERRANEAN DIET | Increase awareness and knowledge of the type and proportions of foods in the MD Enable participants to set personal SMART MD goals and to monitor their progress | MD overview SMART goals Monitoring progress | *Mediterranean diet pyramid poster |
2 | WEEK 2 | HEALTH BENEFITS OF A MEDITERRANEAN DIET | Identify individual motivators for changing diet towards MD Learn about the health benefits of the MD and discuss practical strategies to promote dietary change | MD and Health Personal Motivation SMART goals Monitoring progress | “Mediterranean diet health benefits” Video Recipe books, shopping lists and meal plan for the season (1) |
3 | WEEK 4 | CHANGING FAT INTAKE | Increase knowledge and awareness of the types and proportions of beneficial fats in MD and increase self-efficacy to change fat intake | Changing fat intake: Replacing SFA with MUFA Sources of MUFA | Oils and nuts to taste |
4 | WEEK 6 | SHOPPING FOR A MEDITERRANEAN DIET | Improve knowledge of MD foods and promote self-efficacy to shop for MD on a budget | Shopping for a MD on a budget | “Healthy Eating on a budget” Video |
5 | WEEK 8 | ENJOY FRUIT AND VEGETABLES | Increase knowledge and awareness of FV as components of MD and promote self-efficacy to increase FV intake | Sources and portions of FV and legumes | “Fruit and Vegetables” Video Fruit and Vegetable portion size guide |
6 | MONTH 3 | EATING A SEASONAL MEDITERRANEAN DIET | Increase awareness of seasonal MD recipes and review personal MD goals in relation to seasonal recipes | MD for the change in season | Recipe books, shopping lists and meal plan for the season (2) Seasonal dish to taste |
7 | MONTH 4 | EATING MORE WHOLEGRAIN | Increase knowledge and awareness of wholegrain intake as a component of MD and promote self-efficacy to increase wholegrain intake | Sources and portions of wholegrain | Wholegrain food cards/quiz Wholegrain portion size guide |
8 | MONTH 6 | EATING A SEASONAL MEDITERRANEAN DIET | Increase awareness of seasonal MD recipes and review personal MD goals in relation to seasonal recipes | MD for the change in season | Recipe books, shopping lists and meal plan for the season (3) Seasonal dish to taste |
9 | MONTH 8 | CONTINUING TO EAT THE MEDITERRANEAN WAY | Review progress in achieving MD SMART goals and promote on-going maintenance of MD Promote maintenance of dietary changes | Relapse prevention | -- |
10 | MONTH 10 | EATING A SEASONAL MEDITERRANEAN DIET | Increase awareness of seasonal MD recipes and review personal MD goals in relation to seasonal recipes | MD for the change in season | Recipe books, shopping lists and meal plan for the season (4) Seasonal dish to taste |
11 | MONTH 12 | HOW HAVE WE DONE? | Review progress in achieving MD SMART goals and promote on-going maintenance of MD in the future | MD review Review of progress | -- |