A two session nutrition education research project was conducted using basic training candidates at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Glynco, Georgia. Prior to the administration of the full scale project, a test questionnaire was developed and evaluated and a project pilot test was conducted. The first part of the project involved the basic training candidates (N=313) responding to questionnaire survey designed to measure demographic and occupational data, knowledge of nutrition (NKQ), and attitudes toward nutrition (AQ). The NKQ and AQ were individually subdivided to measure various subscales. A minimum time period of 10 calendar days was allowed to elapse prior to the administration of the second part of this project. The same participants (N=286) were randomly assigned to one of four color treatment groups. All the groups were exposed to written nutrition education material, Eater's Almanac Vol. 1, No. 21, reprinted on one of four background colors (white, blue, green, and yellow). Following a set time period to review the contents, the candidates were administered an immediate recall questionnaire (IRQ).

The basic training candidates at FLETC possessed some knowledge of nutrition prior to reading the nutrition education material. Out of a possible maximum score of 20, the mean was 10.38. Food faddism issues appeared to be the weakest area. Improvement of nutrition knowledge was approximately equal among all treatment groups. The overall mean IRQ score was 13.28 with a ranqe of 12.92 to 13.60. The nutrition attitudes of the candidates were favorable with a mean cumulative score of 45.08 out of a possible 80 (2.83/item). Food faddism was the weakest area. Immediate recall scores were unaffected by the candidates attitudes (r=.122 p .05).

Background color does not appear to be a factor in the improvement of immediate recall scores. Basic training candidates possess favorable attitudes toward nutrition; however, this favorable attitude did not affect immediate recall scores. Further research efforts should be tailored toward the evaluation of additional relationships between color and nutrition education, long term nutrition education recall, the relationship of nutrition knowledge and nutrition attitudes, and their effect of knowledge and attitudes upon nutrition practices for law enforcement personnel.