College of Agricultural Sciences • Cooperative Extension

FRIDGE

Program Description:
FRIDGE (Food-Related Intergenerational Discussion Group Experiences) is an educational program that brings family members of different generations together to share their views and knowledge related to food, learn new information about food and nutrition, and establish family plans to adopt healthier food selection, preparation, and eating practices.

Program Objectives:

1. Family members will gain communication skills to facilitate effective family communication about food-related issues.
2. Join family members together in a shared learning experience designed to help them: (a) examine similarities and differences in eating habits and nutrition knowledge of the different generations represented in the family, and (b) use current nutrition recommendations to establish new shared family dietary behaviors.
3. Establish family plans to adopt healthier food selection, preparation, and eating practices.
   

Program Audience:
The FRIDGE program is designed to be conducted with a group of 4-8 families. Each family is represented by one or more children 10-15 years of age, their parents and, if available, their grandparents or other relatives in caregiving roles.

Curriculum Materials:
The FRIDGE curriculum has 3 sections, each with 4-6 activities.

• Section 1: Enhancing family communication about food
• Section 2: Learning together about food and nutrition
• Section 3: Working as a team to improve family eating practices

FRIDGE - Food, Family & Fellowship Curriculum (PDF - pages 1-140)

Questions or comments about this curriculum should be directed to:

Matthew Kaplan, Ph.D.
Professor - Intergenerational Programs and Aging
The Pennsylvania State University
Department of Agricultural and Extension Education
7A Ferguson Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: (814) 863-7871; Fax: (814) 863-4753
E-mail: msk15@psu.edu

To order curriculum materials, complete order form and contact:

Colleen Bloom
The Pennsylvania State University
Department of Agricultural and Extension Education
206 Ferguson Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: (814) 863-7850; Fax: (814) 863-4753
E-mail: clb45@psu.edu