Whole Grain Nutrition Education Program Improves Whole Grain Knowledge and Behaviors Among Community-Residing Older Adults

U.S. older adults are not meeting the recommendation for whole grain (WG) intake. This pilot study determined the influence that a WG nutrition education program for community-residing adults aged 60?+?years has on WG knowledge and behaviors. The program included WG education and discussion, participation in hands-on activities and taste testing. Participants were mostly white, females. Total grain and WG dietary intake frequencies (WG frequency; p?≤?0.001), and “knowledge score” increased from PRE to POST (p?≤?0.001). Participants in PowerPoint-based classes had a higher “knowledge scores” at POST (p?=?0.002). Nearly all (n?=?139, 88.5%) intended to eat more WG foods, with almost two-thirds (n?=?93, 59.3%) reporting a “strong” intention to do so. There was a positive association between strength of intention to eat WG foods and “WG frequency” at POST (r?=?0.435, p?≤?0.001). Results suggest that this WG program is an effective strategy for improving WG knowledge and behaviors among older adults.