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Objective: To examine acceptability, attrition, adherence, and preliminary efficacy of mobile phone short message service (SMS; text messaging) for monitoring healthful behaviors in children. Design: All randomized children received a brief psychoeducational intervention. They then either monitored target behaviors via SMS with feedback or via paper diaries (PD) or participated in a no-monitoring control (C) for 8 weeks. Setting: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Participants: Fifty-eight children (age 5-13) and parents participated; 31 completed (SMS: 13/18, PD: 7/18, C: 11/22). Intervention: Children and parents participated in a total of 3 group education sessions (1 session weekly for 3 weeks) to encourage increasing physical activity and decreasing screen time and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Main Outcome Measures: Treatment acceptability, attrition, and adherence to self-monitoring. Analysis: Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used to analyze differences across time and group. Results: Children in SMS had somewhat lower attrition (28%) than both PD (61%) and C (50%), and significantly greater adherence to self-monitoring than PD (43% vs 19%, P < .02). Conclusions and Implications: Short message service may be a useful tool for self-monitoring healthful behaviors in children, although the efficacy of this approach needs further study. Implications suggest that novel technologies may play a role in improving health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the various academic papers published in the journal (referred to as JNE) between 1978 and 1987. It examines the environmental context of publication and the management and editorial leadership of the journal. The increased attention on nutrition education in the U.S. in the 1980s is discussed, including the more frequent use of surveys by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The editors of the journal during the time period are mentioned, such as Helen Ullrich, Susan M. Oace, and Laura Sims. Conferences which were the origin of JNE supplements are also discussed, including "The National Conference on Nutrition Education: Directions for the '80s" and "Nutrition Education Research: Applying Principles from the Behavioral Sciences."

Obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes are becoming leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Eastern Caribbean countries of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Grenada, and Dominica. To promote healthful diets and lifestyles and encourage behavioral changes, Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) were developed for the general population in each of these countries. This paper reports on the comprehensive process of developing the guidelines through consensus building among stakeholders, technical assessments and priority setting, and use of qualitative methods to field test messages to ensure public understanding and motivation. Nutritionists in each country received training and support from the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Pan American Health Organization's nutritionists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition (SCN) is a forum where United Nations (UN) agencies, bilateral partners, and nongovernmental agencies meet to harmonize and coordinate nutrition policy and programs. This report reviews the positions taken regarding nutrition education throughout SCN publications, annual sessions, and thematic working groups. The first Nutrition Policy Paper, published in 1985, was a State-of-the-Art Review that investigated 6 aspects of a nutrition education system. Later SCN publications and meetings have further addressed how to conduct effective nutrition education to maximize impact. For nutrition education to be worthwhile, it must reach significant audiences and lead to behavioral change, conditions which in turn require feasibility studies and investments in terms of personnel and resources. The SCN plays an important role to these ends through: 1) the advocacy opportunity offered by the SCN Annual Session; 2) the expertise of the working groups; and 3) the dissemination channels offered by the SCN publications and Web site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, nutrition is described primarily as a matter of individual responsibility, which results in a focus on limited strategies that are unlikely to be successful. Public health advocates need to change the terms of debate or "reframe" the issue so that the context around individuals--the social, economic, and political context--comes into view. This paper uses obesity as an example of the need for reframing in nutrition. The authors also offer some suggestions on refraining based on lessons learned from other public health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A healthy diet is considered a critical pathway in influencing chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and obesity. The current information environment around diet and nutrition is complex and often confusing to the public. Though considerable evidence suggests that successful public health communication campaigns can promote health and prevent disease, studies also show that this success is subject to the influence of social determinants, such as social class, social networks, race and ethnicity, and neighborhood. Through a critical and selective review of literature on social epidemiology and public health communication, this paper explores how social determinants may mediate nutrition communication effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four of the 10 leading causes of death can be attributed to poor dietary behaviors. Nutrition professionals continue to stuggle with the most effective ways to deliver nutrition messages that will result in changes in dietary behavior. On July 14-15, 2005, the National Cancer Institute and the Division of Nutrition Research Coordination, both of the National Institutes of Health, hosted a meeting to explore the state of the science concerning this issue. This paper provides an introduction to that meeting and the articles that resulted from it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile apps show promise for managing chronic diseases such as hypertension; however, more evidence is needed to understand how dietitians are using apps in hypertension care. To classify dietitians' incorporation of apps into dietary education for patients with hypertension. An online cross-sectional survey of registered dietitian nutritionists who work with patients with cardiovascular disease. App use in hypertension diet education classified with descriptive statistics and Friedman tests with Bonferroni corrections. Dietitian characteristics impacting app use measured through stepwise regression. A total of 190 completed the survey. The DASH diet was the most common dietary approach used in hypertension education (P <.001). The most commonly recommended app for hypertension education was MyFitnessPal (23%); however, only 36% recommend any apps to patients with hypertension. For comparison, 64% recommended apps for weight management. Few (2%) were extremely satisfied with apps for hypertension management and less than a third were somewhat satisfied (30%). In general, dietitians did use apps for diet tracking, with a third reporting using apps for diet tracking most of the time, and another third sometimes. Dietitians were more likely to recommend apps for diet tracking than pen and paper (P <.001), online programs or websites (P =.01), or computer-based word-processing (P <.001). Stepwise regression analysis showed that as dietitian education level increased, the number of patients that dietitians recommended apps to also increased (R-squared =.04, P =.01). Dietitian age and gender did not significantly predict app use. Most dietitians are not specifically recommending apps for hypertension management. Those who do use an app are most likely to use MyFitnessPal. Future work should examine the effectiveness of using MyFitnessPal to reduce hypertension and barriers to dietitian satisfaction with apps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schools are key spaces for promoting healthy behaviors vital for student achievement. School-community partnerships can deliver resources, but are hindered by challenges to organizational integration. This study examines collaborative efforts by 7 SNAP-Ed nutrition education community partners working within a large, urban school district. The overall study provides an in-depth understanding of how SNAP-Ed partners collaborate with schools to address complex health problems. This paper provides insight into participant understandings of program components that might be included in shared measurement systems to achieve collective impact (Kania and Kramer, 2011). The authors used case study methods in 19 urban public schools: 120 interviews with program and school staff, 7 student focus groups, and 91 school observations. We coded data in Dedoose and met regularly to discuss emerging themes. Codes included the taxonomy of implementation outcomes (Proctor et al, 2010). This analysis draws from codes that focus on what program participants and staff see as the most successful and valuable parts of the program. We mapped our findings onto the Theory of Planned Behavior (Azjen, 1991), which posits that before behavior can change, 3 factors must shift (attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms). Participants indicated that the most important aspects of the program are "exposure" to new foods (attitude change), access to healthy foods (shift in perceived control), and school culture around health (change in subjective norms). We propose creating a new conceptual model for evaluating SNAP-Ed programming in a school, particularly for Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) work, that aligns outcomes to participants' own understandings of program impacts. This model would capture changes in attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms earlier in program implementation. These are vital to sustained behavior change but often overlooked when measuring nutrition interventions. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To design and pilot a questionnaire for assessing youth attitudes about the food system. Design: Nutrition educators provided important topics for food system education through a survey using the Delphi method. The resulting questionnaire of attitude scales was piloted with high school students. Setting: The Delphi survey of nutrition educators was conducted through the mail and electronically. A paper and pencil questionnaire was administered to high school students in Family and Consumer Science classes. Participants: Delphi participants were members of the Society for Nutrition Education's Division of Sustainable Food Systems. A convenience sample of high school students completed the pilot questionnaire. Variables Measured: Scales measured attitudes about farmland protection, participation in the local food system, hunger in the United States, organic agriculture, and environmental issues related to food. Analysis: Factor analysis was used to identify constructs. The internal consistency of each resulting scale was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Results: Reliability of attitude scales ranged from .59 to .73. Conclusions and Implications: Attitude scales were created for the purpose of assessing youth thoughts and beliefs about the local or regional food system. Such assessments can serve as a starting point for food system educators interested in developing effective curricula on food system topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to describe a process for developing and validating outcome measures relevant to dietary quality behaviors targeted by Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE). The ultimate goal is a measure that is valid, reliable, sensitive to change, and practical for use for a wide variety of FSNE evaluation purposes. The development process has incorporated input from FSNE stakeholders at the federal and state level and follows a systematic, research-driven approach that incorporates both qualitative and quantitative research and includes methods for identification of subject domains, selection of evaluation items, initial pretesting, and reduction of items. This type of research establishes the trustworthiness of new evaluation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE) is an optional component of the Food Stamp Program aimed at improving food choices of program participants. The last decade has seen a dramatic expansion in FSNE, accompanied by increased interest in FSNE evaluation. The Society for Nutrition Education, as a leader in nutrition education research, has worked collaboratively with federal partners to improve FSNE evaluation. This is the first in a 3-part series of papers presented in this issue of the "Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior." The series reviews the issues, priority needs, and opportunities identified through this process; explains our current focus on the development of a brief measure assessing FSNE-relevant dietary behaviors; and describes plans for measurement development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined the perceived differences in benefits and challenges relating to fruit versus vegetable consumption among a purposive, convenience sample of Canadian women.Design: This inductive, qualitative study involved 8 semi-structured group interviews conducted by an experienced moderator.Setting: Interviews were conducted at public health units in southern Ontario.Participants: Forty-seven women, aged 20 to 44 years, were recruited through existing community programs and news-paper advertisements.Analysis: The constant comparison method of data analysis was used to identify overarching themes.Results: Five themes were identified: (1) fruits 'fill the gap between meals' (the main benefit); (2) concern about 'pesticides and parasites and bacteria'; and (3) 'How can some-thing look so good and have no taste?' (main challenges of eating fruit); (4) vegetables make meals 'appealing' (main benefit); and (5) the 'social' dimension of eating vegetables (main challenge).Conclusions and Implications: Participants readily described different benefits and challenges relating to consumption of fruits versus vegetables. Tailored nutrition messages addressing perceived differences in the benefits and challenges for eating fruits versus vegetables may be needed to encourage increased consumption of these foods. Further research can determine whether these perceptions are widely held. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the impact of the West Virginia (WV) Kids Market Program on children's knowledge, attitudes and consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV) using a parent survey. Ninety percent of WV adults do not eat five servings of FV daily. Without positive parent role modeling and consistent home access, children are unlikely to develop preferences for FV, putting them at risk for obesity later in life. Repeated exposures and opportunities to taste in a positive environment are needed to encourage acceptance and consumption of FV by children. The program targeted low income children of all ages at SNAP-Ed and EFNEP nutrition education sites and their parents. Each child received $4 vouchers to shop at a farmers market set up at their school, child care center or other youth-based program site. Children received nutrition education and were offered taste tests in conjunction with markets. A 12-question, parent survey was sent home with all children participating in the market. Paper surveys were entered in SurveyMonkey for analysis. A total of 724 were returned (32% response rate). Of those parents returning surveys, 91% said their child ate all the produce they purchased, 77% said their child was more excited about FV, 71% said their child talks about FV more and 78% said their child could identify more FV. Parents reported changes in their child's knowledge, attitude and consumption of FV because of the program which are important factors in development of food preferences. This program offers a replicable model for nutrition education programs focused on increasing FV consumption and access in low income audiences. None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the feasibility of using the Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24-2016) to assess children's diets as reported by parents enrolled in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). Washington EFNEP collects adult dietary data with a facilitated group 24-hour dietary recall (24HDR) using the form "Food Tracker: What I ate yesterday," supported by the facilitator and visual guides (Townsend et al 2013). The facilitation of ASA24 mirrored the facilitated process with guided instruction and visuals. A sample of English and Spanish speaking parents enrolled in WA EFNEP. As part of a larger study, parents were asked to complete a 24HDR via ASA24 for their youngest child between ages 2-8 at week two and nine of EFNEP classes. A facilitation kit was used to assist participants. All ASA24 data collections were conducted by trained professional staff. Raw data was exported from ASA24 to track the number of successful logins and attempts to enter recalls at each timepoint, total calories consumed, meal times, and food codes. Data collectors recorded errors frequently encountered, adjustments made to specific recalls, and user difficulties. Of the 88 enrolled participants, 62% completed ASA24 entry in Spanish and 38% in English. Fifty four percent (47) successfully completed ASA24, 27% (24) were unable to complete ASA24 and their child recalls were collected on paper, and 19% (17) did not attend the data collection. ASA24 can successfully be used to assess children's diets reported by parents enrolled in EFNEP. However, users may encounter challenges with connectivity, limited participant literacy levels, and technical difficulties within the ASA24 system. Identifying challenges and strategies to overcome them, is critical to inform the advancement and dissemination of this web-based tool. USDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature has shown a tendency of inadequate eating habits among youth, consequently, nutritional interventions are required. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) classifies individuals based on their readiness to change. This work aimed to describe how the TTM was applied to nutritional interventions for adolescents. This systematic review followed the recommendations of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. We searched seven databases for randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs written in English, Spanish and Portuguese that applied the TTM to nutritional interventions targeting adolescents. The primary question was "How was the TTM applied in the nutritional interventions?" The secondar question was "Were these nutritional interventions effective?" Data extraction occurred through the usage of an adaptation of the table model from Melo et al. 2017. That model follows instructions of the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination for Undertaking Reviews in Healthcare. Quality and risk of bias were assessed through a questionnaire, developed by the Effective Public Health Practice Project. The initial search in seven databases yielded 3,779 results, resulting in 10 final included papers. Adolescents were mostly recruited from schools, and the duration of the studies ranged from a month to three years. Eight interventions had positive results regarding improvements in dietary behaviors or TTM's measurements. Nine studies assessed stages of change, seven decisional balance, and five of them measured self-efficacy. The results from assessed studies showed that TTM based nutritional interventions for adolescents are way more effective than those that do not use the model, what is probably because it personalizes the intervention for every participant. This study is useful in the sense that it provides information about the usage of the model for this age group, describing its positive aspects as well as offering alternatives to deal with its weaknesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum is a versatile, gluten-free, whole grain, yet overall human consumption of sorghum is minimal. Whole grains, such as sorghum, substituted for refined grains can enhance the nutrition content of a dish. This research study was to determine the sensory perception and overall food preference of college-aged students when comparing sorghum to rice in a ready-made dish. A quasi-experimental study was conducted in a campus foodservice setting at the University of North Florida. The participants (n = 596) were randomly recruited, using convenience sampling, to blindly taste test two food samples then complete an associated sensory and perception survey. The food samples consisted of recipes identically prepared, with the substitution of sorghum for rice. Paper and electronic sensory analysis (using hybrid hedonic scales) and food preference surveys were available after sampling. A majority of the participants (71.9%) were ages 18-20 years old, with 42.3% selecting their educational classification as a freshman. Participants rated their overall feeling about each dish as to how often they would consume it, the response yielded a significant difference in overall mean (3.66 vs. 3.42, P =.000), with preference given to rice over sorghum. In comparing the two grain based dishes, participants indicated they would eat this every now and then to every opportunity they had with rice (55.2%) to sorghum (48.4%). Yet in response to overall acceptance of sorghum to rice, there was no significant difference. This study provides feedback on the perception of college students on substituting a refined grain for whole grains in ready-made dishes. This preliminary study implies that acceptability for alternative grains is feasible in college-age populations and more research needs to be conducted on overall perception of alternative grains in ready-made dishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To implement and evaluate an integrated Spanish-language program to improve nutrition, increase physical activity, and strengthen family function among Mexican-heritage (MH) families. We describe research (stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial [SWCRCT] of father-focused, family-centered program), education (experiential learning and innovative teaching), and extension (promotora-led charlas [chats/talks]) components. The SWCRCT consists of clusters of 10-15 families receiving six in-person group sessions (three focused on father-child pairs) and at-home activities. Session include food tastings, interactive lessons, active games, hands-on food preparation, time to eat together, and goal setting. The promotora interventionists were trained using the train-the-trainer approach to gain knowledge and skills related to nutrition and food preparation, physical activity, family functioning, and motivational interviewing. The program actively involved undergraduate and graduate students from Texas A&M University, Baylor University, and Texas State University in experiential training that included material development, participant observation of promotora trainings (cooking and experiential nutrition and physical activity) and family pretesting, and motivational interviewing. Program activities and learnings were included in undergraduate and graduate courses (research methods and evaluation). In the charla program, team promotoras conducted a series of five community-based programs and activities that delivered science-based knowledge and informal educational programs to empower Mexican-heritage children and families to make sustainable healthy decisions. More than 400 participants attended charlas, which took place in community centers, churches, community organizations, and colonia neighborhoods. Data were collected for training, recruitment, process (observations and checklists), and outcome (pre- and post-program surveys, seven-day accelerometer, Veggie Meter®, and interviews/focus groups. Surveys and reflection papers from students were used. Post-charla surveys, debriefs, and a follow-up ripple effect survey (sharing of session materials) was done. This integrated family program enhances the capacity of families, students, promotoras, and community members to incorporate education and skill-building into healthier behaviors. The SWCRCT is a game changer by engaging Mexican-heritage fathers, co-parenting couples, and children and addresses a lacuna in obesity prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breakfast After the Bell (BATB) has become the unofficial standard in school breakfast, particularly in larger, urban districts. However, there is sometimes concern that students eat at home or buy food before school, therefore eating breakfast twice. Additionally, student perceptions of BATB, its benefits and challenges, remain largely unstudied. To understand if students are eating multiple breakfasts when BATB is served, and to measure students' opinions of BATB. Middle school (MS) students from a low-income urban school district that operates under the Community Eligibility Provision took a paper-and-pencil survey during homeroom. This MS had switched from BATB back to breakfast before the bell midway through the schoolyear (n = 1149). District breakfast participation data were also collected and analyzed. Participants answered questions regarding their perceptions of school breakfast. Participants were also asked their opinions of the traditional model of serving breakfast before the bell compared to BATB. District breakfast participation data and descriptive statistics are presented. The majority of students reported a positive impression of BATB, specifically that they feel better when they eat breakfast (69%); eating school breakfast saves time at home in the morning (56%); and school breakfast saves their family money (53%). In addition, they stated they were more likely to eat breakfast when it was served in the classroom (55%). Importantly, the vast majority of students said that they never, or only sometimes, buy breakfast on the way to school (92%), and only 18% reported that they always eat at home. District breakfast participation data show a significant decrease in breakfast participation after the switch to breakfast before the bell. Overall, students reported many benefits of the BATB model. For most students, BATB was the only breakfast they report eating, which should remove the double-breakfast concern for school administrators. Returning to BATB would likely increase breakfast participation in the MS. Rutgers University Community-University Research Partnership Grant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To examine the validity and reliability of a questionnaire administered with an audience response system (ARS). Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Two New York City public elementary schools. Participants Fourth- and fifth-grade students. Main Outcome Measures A Food, Health, and Choices questionnaire (FHC-Q) assessed energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs) including intake of fruits and vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages, processed packaged snacks, and fast food; physical activity; recreational screen time; and associated psychosocial determinants (≥ 3 questions/outcome scale). Previously validated reference instruments were used for relative validation. The ARS format was compared with a paper-and-pencil format. All measures were administered in a classroom setting. Analysis Pearson correlation coefficients between the reference instruments and the FHC-Q were calculated. Internal consistency reliabilities were evaluated with Cronbach α. Spearman rank correlation, intra-class correlation, and percent agreement were used for test-retest reliability between paper-and-pencil and ARS, and between 2 ARS FHC-Q administrations. Results Correlations for EBRBs with reference instruments ranged from 0.38 to 0.61 ( P < .01). Cronbach α ranged from .77 to .92 for EBRBs and .74 to .90 for psychosocial determinants. Test-retest reliability correlations ranged from 0.36 to 0.87 ( P < .001). Agreement for knowledge questions ranged from 69.8% to 84.8%. Conclusions and Implications The ARS FHC-Q has acceptable validity and reliability for collecting data on EBRBs and associated psychosocial determinants for upper-elementary students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article introduces various papers published in the November 2005 issue of the "Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior." One of the papers introduces the health-centered approach. It provides a clear, research-based foundation for this orientation, along with recommendations for its practice in a clinical setting and considerations of its implications. One of the researchers, Paul Rozin's presented fascinating review of the meanings that food has for humans and how it is that Americans find themselves in the present untenable situation. A paper on shaping healthy lifestyles and behaviors focuses on the importance of the built environment in that. It followed by a workshop outline and case exercise. The paper followed a decision-making process to illustrate how to prioritize various opportunities to effect change. Artist Larry Kirkwood in his paper leads off the body image section with a humanistic perspective that incorporates aesthetic and ethical dimensions. It reported that health-centered body-image program in practice is an effective model for preventing eating disorders among girls.

One in 4 American Indians or Alaska Natives (AIAN) are estimated to experience food insecurity. Access to traditional food sources may, in part, explain the high prevalence of food insecurity. Traditional foods were primary sources of nutrition and could often be acquired through non-market mechanisms prior to colonization. Whether and how access relates to food insecurity is unknown. To assess whether access and consumption of traditional native foods is associated with food insecurity among AIAN. Cross-sectional pilot study using a paper-and-pencil questionnaire administered at a National Powwow in October 2019. Adults that self-identified as AIAN were recruited in-person. Food insecurity was assessed with 2 items to capture the dimensions of adequate quality and sufficient quantity of foods. Native foods security was assessed with 1 validated item on a 4-point Likert scale for perceived sufficiency of native food access ranging from 'never' to 'always'. Hunting, fishing, and gathering practices were also reported. Chi-squared tests were used to assess the relationship of food insecurity with native foods access and use. The mean age of 39 respondents was 43.5 (±13.7) years and 56.4% identified as female. Food insecurity was high, with 31% reporting insufficient quantity or compromised quality. Native foods insecurity (rated as 'never' or 'rarely') was also high, reported by 74% of respondents. Native foods insecurity was common, regardless of food insecurity status (P >.05). Fishing to access native foods was more common among those also reporting insufficient quantity (P <.001) or compromised quality of foods (P =.007), when compared to never fishing. Though limited by sample size, this pilot study provides support for future hypotheses and investigations related to native foods and food insecurity. Future work should use mixed methods to better understand food insecurity, access to native foods, and the potential relationship with diet. None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limiting sugar-sweetened beverages served to children can help decrease childhood obesity risk. Early Care and Education (ECE) providers are key to promoting these beverage policies because they play a role in establishing healthy habits among young children. As a majority of Americans have Internet access, eLearning would be an appropriate format for a beverage policy training platform for ECE providers. The specific aim of this study was to determine the preferred eLearning format of ECE providers in Georgia to inform the development of an eLearning beverage policy training. The target population for study included licensed and license exempt ECE providers in GA serving children ages 0-5. A randomized, stratified sample of facilities was selected. ECE providers completed an electronic or paper survey evaluating the degree in which their program implemented beverage policy recommendations and their eLearning preferences. Mock prototypes for preferred eLearning formats were developed. A convenience sample participated in semi-structured interviews to yield preferences for the development of the eLearning training. Descriptive statistics were calculated to determine eLearning preferences. Qualitative data analysis was conducted to reveal themes from interviews. A total of 646 respondents completed the eLearning survey. Sixty eight percent of ECE providers reported participation in the Child and Adult Food Care Program. Participants had access to the internet (98.5%) and 44% would use the internet for a 15-minute educational session. Eighty five percent of participants reported having no beverage policy training. The preferred eLearning formats identified online were interactive video (46.8%), podcast (37.5%) and video-based learning (31.7%). A subset of ECE providers participated (N = 20) participated in interviews. Most participants chose interactive videos as the most effective training format. Findings showed that effective trainings should be engaging, concise, and hold trainees accountable. Study results revealed that most participants have not received a beverage policy training. eLearning trainings is a promising method to educate ECE providers and improve the quality of beverages served to young children. None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the acceptability and feasibility of Facebook to provide ECE support on a nutrition curriculum, WISE. Parents and community members were targeted with a WISE component located in grocery stores. Nutrition interventions targeting children in early childcare are often intended to improve consumption and access in care and at home. For quality implementation of curriculum early childcare educators (ECE) need ongoing and on-demand support. Improving the nutritional environment in the community may result from public access to intervention components. ECEs (N = 776) attending WISE training were randomly assigned to receive support via Facebook. Most ECEs were White (63.0%), lead teachers (61.3%), and had a Bachelor's degree (39.5%). WISE communities (N = 8) were randomly assigned for retail intervention over a two year cohort. Cohort 1 (n = 4) received in-person support to implement and cohort 2 (n = 4) received online support. The sites were selected based on the ratio of children in WISE-trained centers to population. The poverty level of children (<18) ranged from 13.9% - 39.0%. Facebook statistics were used to assess the success of acceptance including the number of invitees that a) accepted the invitation to 'friend' the project Facebook page, b) that engaged, and c) that initiated. Retail engagement was assessed by the response of the store management to the project (location of display, willingness to engage with project staff), number of WISE handouts distributed or downloaded (cohort 2), and requests to continue or expand. Few ECEs (3.9%) accepted invitation, engaged (53%) or initiated (6%) activities even when offered incentives, polls, and alterations in security settings. All retail managers were enthusiastic to the project, asked for permission to expand, and continue after support was reduced to online. One thousand ninety two paper handouts were disseminated and online handouts reached 406. In our study, Facebook was not acceptable based on the lack of engagement by ECEs. This preliminary evidence suggests that retail connections are feasible and acceptable. 2016 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile applications ('apps') for WIC families are becoming increasingly prevalent, especially in states that have transitioned from paper vouchers to electronic benefits transfer (EBT) for WIC. Apps and other digital technologies can improve the WIC experience by helping participants check their benefit balance, scan food items to determine WIC eligibility, streamline service delivery, and provide additional nutrition education. The Children Eating Well (CHEW) app aims to maximize redemption of WIC foods and improve overall diet quality of preschool-aged participants by facilitating benefit redemption at the store and providing easy, practical ways for parents to increase consumption of healthy foods through healthy recipes, quizzes, and goal setting features. The objective is to report on the findings of user testing and development during the preparation of version 2.0 of the CHEW app. Our team conducted qualitative interviews families of WIC children aged 2-4 years in an iterative process to inform user-centered development of version 2.0 and to maximize usability of the app. Using a sorting activity, participants were asked to rank potential in-app features by importance then place the cards into natural groupings of similar features. Participants were also asked to form mental models about using recipes, shopping lists, using WIC benefits, and checking their WIC balance. We will report on qualitative findings that informed the user interface, improvement of shopping tools, and format of nutrition education features. We will also describe how we are collaborating with partners and outline ways that potential partners can collaborate with the CHEW team to disseminate existing nutrition education content to WIC participants through the CHEW app in the future. The CHEW 2.0 app will be implemented in WIC clinics across the state of Tennessee as a supplemental education tool for families to use at home, with plans for future dissemination to other states. These formative findings can also inform the development of other technology applications for the WIC program. 2017-68001-26352. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the announcement of the winner of the 2006 Graduate Student Research Competition award sponsored by the Nutrition Education Research Interest Section of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN). L. Suzanne Goodell won the award for her paper entitled "Parental Perceptions of Preschool Overweight: A Qualitative Examination." Goodell is a graduate student in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Connecticut and is advised by Ann M. Ferris, who is also a co-author of the paper along with Carolina M. Bravo and Michelle B. Pierce.

An abstract of the paper "Changes in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption of Third Grade Students in Body Quest: Food of the Warrior" by Barb Struempler and colleagues presented at the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior's Annual Conference in 2013, is presented.

An abstract of the paper "Participation in a Daycare-based Family Nutrition Education/Cooking Program improves Parent Self-efficacy" by Carolyn Gunther and colleagues presented at the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior's Annual Conference in 2013, is presented.

An abstract of the paper "Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Low Income Ethnically Diverse Students through Afterschool Cooking Clubs" by Leika Suzumura, presented at the 2013 Annual Conference of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior, is presented.

An abstract of the paper "Health at Every Size: A New Opportunity for General Education" by Dawn Clifford and colleagues, presented at the 2013 Annual Conference of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior, is presented.

The article examines an activity designed to help teach college dietetics and nutrition majors enrolled in an Experimental Foods course about a range of whole grains. In the course, students chose a particular whole grain, such as bulgur or quinoa, prepared a dish featuring the grain, and wrote a paper discussing the grain. The article discusses the positive student response to the activity, questions covered during class discussion, the role of high-fiber foods in body weight regulation, and cooking techniques for the grains.

The article discusses the interactive nutrition evaluation program called the Once Upon a Time in America. Participants of nutrition education classes sponsored by the State Cooperative Extension System that are typically evaluated with a pencil-and-paper design. A research was created as an enjoyable first-time experience for individuals participating in Cooperative Extension education series programs. The environment helps foster a positive relationship between participants and the education. The initiative was developed to create an engaging, age-appropriate, easy-to-use evaluation tool for fourth and fifth grade students in a nutrition education program. The evaluation tool is composed of two components used simultaneously by students. The tool served as pre- and postassessments to determine changes in students' nutrition knowledge and behavior that resulted from participation in a six-week nutrition education program.

Objective To determine the prevalence of eating disorders among university students and its relationship to behavioral characteristics and substance use. Design Cross-sectional study collected socioeconomic characteristics and behavioral risk. Setting University of Upper Normandy, France. Participants University student volunteers. Phenomenon of Interest The Sick, Control, One stone, Fat, Food (SCOFF) screening test was used to identify subjects with eating disorders by a confidential questionnaire self-administered either online or on paper. Analysis Multivariate logistic regression models with P < .05 considered significant. Results A total of 3,457 students were included with a male-to-female ratio of 0.57. The prevalence of positive SCOFF screening was 20.5% among students. A positive relation between the positive SCOFF was observed with female gender (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.28–3.89; P < .001), stress (AOR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.09–1.12; P < .001), depression (AOR, 8.62; 95% CI, 3.37–22.10; P < .001) alcohol abuse problems (AOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.20–1.95; P = .006), and risk of cyber-addiction (AOR, 5.09; 95% CI, 2.69–9.62; P < .001). Conclusions and Implications Eating disorders are highly prevalent among university students in France and associated with other behavior risks, stress, and depression. It might prove necessary in the future to screen students with the SCOFF questionnaire upon entry to the university to inform student about the risk of eating disorders and advise them to consult with their general practitioner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor discusses various reports published within the issue including a paper by AR Lindsay and colleagues on a field assessment for obesity prevention in children.

A call for papers in abstracts for poster presentation is presented.

A call for papers in nutrition and health strategies and tools is presented.

An abstract of the paper "Family Childcare Provider's Input into a Nutrition and Physical Activity Program for Young Children" by Victoria Lee and colleagues presented at the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior's Annual Conference in 2013, is presented.

An abstract of the paper "Lessons Learned for Enrolling Parents in a Text Message-based Nutrition Education Program" by Katherine Speirs and colleagues, presented at the 2013 Annual Conference of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior, is presented.

The author appreciates the effort of the Society of Nutrition Education (SNE) leaders for presenting a thorough assessment for SNE board to advocate strong policies that promote healthy environment. She states SNE advocated for robust nutrition policies as part of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act for 2010. She reports on a paper on nutrition published in association with the American Dietetic Association.

The article discusses the presence of nutritional information on the Internet and says that many items published by the publication are also available online. About 80% of all U.S. Internet users have used the Internet to find health information. For this reason it is important for nutrition experts to publish their papers online and to make sure that Internet users understand and use the food pyramid..

The article looks at nutrition and exercise publications and examines the growth of the nutrition field. The article discusses nutrition education programs, the review process for papers submitted to "Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior" (JNEB), the importance of nutrition publications, constructive criticism, and the Society of Nutrition Education's annual workshop. The author encourages educators who have created nutrition programs to write a manuscript for JNEB describing and evaluating their programs.

The article highlights the recognition of excellence in communication relevant to nutrition education and behavior through an annual award for the best paper as judged by a blue ribbon panel of leaders within the Society for Nutrition Education and the "Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior." The society and the publication have developed a common set of goals and a mutual respect for the dissemination of professional information through a variety of mediums both print and online. In this regard, the president and publisher of the periodical announces the grant of the BC Decker 2004-2005 award to Dr. Michelle L. Granner for the original article "Factors of Fruit and Vegetable Intake by Race, Gender, and Age Among Young Adolescents," written by Granner and her colleagues.

This paper presents an overview of the articles discussed in the issue of the journal. The goals for the 4 articles that are presented are to advance understanding of the life course perspective and its relevance to food choice and to foster new research in nutrition education at the intersection of life course and food choice. The first 2 articles orient the readers toward the concepts of the life course and their relevance to health, nutrition, and food choice. Meanwhile, the second 2 articles present empirical research that makes use of frameworks and concepts from the life course perspective.

This paper provides an overview of the articles published in the journal, which describe and illustrate how a life course perspective can provide an engaging, interdisciplinary means of understanding how food- and nutrition-related behaviors change across the life span of individuals. The life course perspective is common in sociology, but it is easy to see why data limitations make it challenging for nutrition researchers to appropriately develop and validate measures for 7 key life course constructs described as trajectories, transitions, turning points, culture and contextual influences, timing in lives, linked lives, and adaptive strategies.