Awareness on functional foods and nutraceuticals among educated home makers through booklet distribution

The urbanization of our country has a strong adverse effect on the dietary pattern in particular the youngsters who are travelling away from nature. The awareness on functional foods and nutraceuticals is very meager among all age groups. The key person of a family is ultimately the homemaker; thus the current study is targeted on educated home maker which will have a mass impact on the society. The teaching aid used in the awareness programme is a colorful booklet fabricated in power point software is issued. The awareness on functional foods and nutraceuticals among hundred educated home makers were evaluated through questionnaire before and after the booklet distribution and the results were statistically analysed. Context: To promote better health and to help reduce the risk of diseases through the emerging fields of functional foods and nutraceuticals as a concept of nutrition, this originated in Japan. To emphasis on the Hippocrates saying, Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food. Aims: To impart basic concepts of functional foods and nutraceuticals to the educated homemakers in Santhosapuram area, Chennai. Settings and Design: The study was planned to evaluate the awareness of functional foods and nutraceuticals among educated home makers in Santhosapuram, Chennai in Tamilnadu. Methods and Material: The methodology used for the study was random sampling method done for one hundred educated homemakers belonging to age group between 20-50 years. The teaching aid used in the awareness programme was a colorful booklet fabricated by the researcher which consists of basic five food groups, food pyramid, functional foods and nutraceuticals: Definition, examples and tables classifying different functional foods, their sources, health benefits and recommended dietary allowance also followed by some cooking recipe was issued. A questionnaire containing open format questions were used to assess the homemaker's knowledge. The booklets were given to each individual homemaker in person with adequate explanations. Ample time was given to them to completely go through the booklet and the same questionnaire was distributed to them. The filled in questionnaires were collected and analysed. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were analyzed using arithmetic mean, standard deviation, students 't' test and the results were interpreted and discussed. Results: The mean scores obtained by the selected educated home makers on the awareness on functional foods and nutraceuticals before booklet issue was 38.13 and the mean score after booklet issue was 99.13. The mean scores obtained by the respondents on the awareness on functional foods of plant origin before booklet distribution was 29.15 and the mean score after booklet distribution was 98.53. From the above comparative mean scores it is very clear that the study was highly significant. Conclusions: The attempt to distribute a Booklet titled Titbits on functional foods and nutraceuticals was observed to be a beneficial tool in inculcating awareness since majority of the home makers changed their dietary pattern as they have changed their routine lunch for their school going children. After awareness they have started to include baked vegetables, stuffed chappathi and sending the school lunch with a fruit each day. So it is the need of the apt time for the functional foods and nutraceuticals to be incorporated in the diets of every one in the family. The key person to bring about a change in the dietary pattern of a home is none other the home maker as per the quotes when a man is educated a single person is educated but when a woman is educated the whole society is educated. Thus more of awareness programs on significance of functional foods and nutraceuticals should be organized by the nutritionist targeting on women for a horde revolution.