Background/Objective: Helping Early Adolescents Live Their Healthiest Youth (HEALTHY) is a four-session, smoothie-based nutrition education program grounded in Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and Choice Architecture, designed to promote nutrition security among rural adolescents. This study examined students’ experiences with the program, including perceptions of likeability and perceived learning, as well as the theoretical mechanisms shaping engagement. Methods: A mixed-methods evaluation was conducted in two rural middle schools where the programming was delivered. Process indicators were assessed using brief paper-based surveys administered after each program session. Quantitative items captured likability and willingness to consume smoothies again (at home or school lunch), and qualitative open-ended responses were analyzed inductively. Post-program focus groups were conducted with a subsample of participants (N = 18) and analyzed deductively using a coding framework aligned with SCT constructs. Results: Across sessions, students (N = 360) reported high smoothie likeability, with fewer than 15% indicating dislike of any recipe. Willingness to consume smoothies again remained high, with affirmative responses ranging from 72% to 94% at home and 79% to 97% at school lunch. Inductive thematic analysis indicated that 53% of survey responses reflected session-aligned nutrition knowledge, along with themes related to acceptability and suggestions for improvement. Focus group findings reflected multiple SCT constructs, including knowledge awareness, self-efficacy, and goal-setting, as well as environmental influences regarding engagement, consistent with Choice Architecture. Conclusions: Findings indicate that the HEALTHY program was well received by rural adolescents and reflected key theoretical mechanisms underlying its design. Student feedback guides future program refinement.

Helping Early Adolescents Live Their Healthiest Youth (HEALTHY) is a theory-driven, school-based nutrition education program grounded in frozen-fruit smoothie taste tests that has been shown to improve fruit intake and promote nutrition security among rural adolescents. To support broader dissemination, a comprehensive implementation toolkit and website were developed. This study conducted an expert review to evaluate the feasibility, clarity, and acceptability of the HEALTHY Toolkit. A survey collected quantitative (Likert-scale) and qualitative (open-ended) data, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Experts (N = 15) primarily included Registered Dietitians (40%, n = 6) and school nutrition professionals (33%, n = 5). Experts reported high agreement that the HEALTHY Toolkit provided sufficient detail and guidance for implementation, indicating strong feasibility, clarity, and acceptability. Mean scores across Toolkit sections were high: Part I. Foundations (4.70 ± 0.26), Part II. Program Design and Implementation (4.64 ± 0.41), and Part III. Tools and Resources (4.14 ± 0.17). These findings support the use of formative evaluation approaches, such as expert review, to optimize implementation resources and strengthen readiness before dissemination. Overall, the HEALTHY Toolkit was perceived as a promising resource for supporting the implementation of the HEALTHY program.