Baseline Data Collection

All Food Dudes projects should begin with a period of baseline data collection.

It is very important to capture what the children are eating before the Programme is introduced in order to clearly demonstrate its effectiveness.

This information will be of particular interest to stakeholders, particularly Government and public sector groups, who are likely to require an evaluation showing an impact on behaviour.

Baseline measures of fruit and vegetable consumption should be taken for a minimum of 4 days just prior to the start of Phase 1.

These same measurements should be taken again at the end of Phase 1 and at a follow-up period into Phase 2 in order to assess immediate and longer term effects of the Food Dudes Programme.

Further information on suitable evaluation methods is provided in Evaluation & Monitoring Step 8.