Search

The goal of this research is to examine the demographics of students volunteering to receive a grocery store tour in order to assess if these students represent those most in need of the information. Dietetics students trained in giving grocery store tours through a Produce for Better Health grant provided store tours to college student volunteers, "tourists". Tourists provided demographic and health behavior data which was analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, t-tests, and chi-square. Twenty-three student trainees gave tours to 49 student tourists. Most tourists were female (77.8%), of healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) (64.9%), and reported being healthy eaters (47.3%). Results indicated that tourists who were not healthy eaters, did not cook daily, and were not likely to increase produce intake after the tour had higher BMI's. Few tourists were male, obese, or reported having less healthy eating habits. Future research should examine who is participating in store tours in order to optimize their impact on healthy eating and shopping habits by assuring recruitment of individuals most in need of the experience.

The purpose of this study was to determine the services and programs needed and/or desired by the baby boomer generation that will prompt them to participate in senior center activities. Eighty-five participants in eight focus groups responded to the questions. The results showed that the current senior centers are not meeting baby boomers' expectations and/or needs in order to successfully age in their own homes and communities. Therefore, if changes are not made to the current senior center to attract baby boomers, it will no longer be considered a major service provider due to low participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]