Reducing Dietary Fat-With Humor

Karen Ensle-Mondrone, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

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Abstract

"Lower Your Cholesterol" helps the consumer understand the nature and digestion of fats/cholesterol in the diet. The Mr. Oilbee character emphasizes an increase in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables accompanied by a decrease in total dietary fat. Examples of teaspoons of fat in foods helped participants visualize adding fat in the daily diet. The program makes learning fun by adding some humor to a serious subject. Humor revitalizes the attention span, increases subject-matter retention, promotes comprehension, reduces anxiety, and enhances the effectiveness of Extension teaching.