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In the United States, 6.5 million children experience food insecurity. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the Building Blocks for Healthy Kids summer nutrition education program for low-in...

Assessing basic needs of students at colleges and universities is gaining traction across the United States. Our research examined the prevalence of food and housing insecurity at a land-grant inst...

Following rising unemployment rates and consequent loss of income due to COVID-19, many people have been seeking meal assistance. This study examines the impact of a community-based free meal distribution program during the pandemic in Kentucky, reviewing characteristics of recipients of the program. Demographics, health behaviors, food insecure classification, and rating of importance of the meal program were collected. Qualitative feedback on the impact of the program was collected via open response. Of the 92 participants using the meal service, the cohort was female, Black, 43 years of age (43.5 ± 15.0 years), with a household income under 30,000 USD before COVID, decreased income since COVID, and were food insecure. Recipients rated the importance of the service as 8.7 ± 1.8 (of 10), and those with children indicated the importance as 4.2 ± 1.1 (of 5). Qualitative data on program importance highlighted four response categories including “changed habits”, “mental wellbeing”, “provided resources”, and “other”. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals have struggled. Meal assistance programs are a fundamental asset in the community that have seen marketed demand since COVID-19. Collaboration with, and evaluation of, meal assistance programs can be valuable for continued programmatic funding support.

Background College food insecurity impacts a significant number of students, potentially having a negative effect on academic success, physical and mental health, and/or wellness. For this reason, interventions that address college food insecurity are vital. Objective To evaluate the demographics and food security status of students utilizing the Farm-to-Fork free weekly lunch initiative at a large land-grant institution and to assess the meal planning and dietary habits of these college students. Study Design, Setting, Participants A 3-semester, cross-sectional study collecting online survey responses from a convenience sample of students participating in the Farm-to-Fork free weekly lunch program. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Primary survey data was used in Pearson chi-square tests to analyze the associations between food security status, demographics, behaviors, and program evaluation findings. Results The survey response rate was 31%. Of the 397 students who completed the online survey, 61% reported experiencing some level of food insecurity with only 13% utilizing campus or community resources to access food. Food security status was significantly associated with daily consumption of 5 food groups (P Conclusion The Farm-to-Fork program provides students with a free well-balanced lunch and educational resources to address issues surrounding college food insecurity and to support student success and wellness. However, there is a need to improve students’ eating habits and utilization of resources for food in times of crisis. Funding University of Kentucky Student Opportunity Grant from The Food Connection, University of Kentucky Student Sustainability Council Grant.

Objective To develop, implement, and evaluate Farm-to-Fork, a free weekly meal program for college students that integrates social, sustainable, local, and educational elements at the University of Kentucky (UK). Use of Theory or Research Of the 1,854 students surveyed at UK, 43% experience some level of food insecurity while the majority of student focus group participants (n = 33) shared specific challenges related to affording healthful food, including fresh fruits and vegetables (FV). Research suggests a need for more nutrition education for college students, as more than half of students in one large study did not receive nutrition-related information and desired such information from the university. Target Audience Farm-to-Fork targets food insecure college students at UK. Program Description Farm-to-Fork offers a multidimensional, interdisciplinary approach using the socioecological model with policy, system, and environment changes. Within the community-level and individual-level environment, Farm-to-Fork partners with various entities, while addressing student's physical, social, and economic environment, by providing educational resources, healthy lunchtime meals using recovered foods and produce, and a stigma-free social space to approximately 120 students weekly. Evaluation Methods Electronic surveys from students at Farm-to-Fork were recorded weekly for 12 weeks. Results In Fall 2018, Farm-to-Fork served 1,397 meals to 574 individuals and 70 student volunteers dedicated 400 hours. The average cost per meal was only 61 cents as a result of 1,100 pounds of recovered foods with an estimated value of $1,837 utilized for the meals. Of the 153 students completing an online survey about the Farm-to-Fork program, 65% experienced some level of food insecurity and 83% did not consume foods from the five food groups daily. FV were the most common food groups lacking in the diet. Though improvement suggestions were related to the meal quality and quantity, 96% provided positive feedback on the meal quality. Conclusions Findings from the Farm-to-Fork initiative suggest that it is effective, and there is a need for innovative programming that addresses college food insecurity to promote student success and wellness. Funding University of Kentucky Student Opportunity Grant from Food Connection.

Objective Examine food in cable television programming specifically targeting 11- to 14-year-olds (“tweens”). Design Content analysis of food-related scenes (FRS)—in which food was shown, mentioned, and/or consumed—in 880 minutes of programming was conducted. Setting Five days of afternoon/early evening television programs on the Disney Channel. Main Outcome Measures and Analysis Food references were compared with USDA MyPlate and classified according to modified Ratio of Recommended to Restricted Food Components. Results The authors found 331 FRS, averaging 16.6 scenes/h. Preponderance of FRS was physiological needs (40.7%), followed by display (10%), party (8.5%), social event (8%), and retail store (6.6%). Snacks dominated 41% of FRS, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner were much lower in frequency. Half of FRS was visual only, followed by verbal only. Food references were not congruent with MyPlate recommendations; 42% of food items did not fit into MyPlate food groups. Only 24% of food items were fruit or vegetables, which is considerably less than recommended by MyPlate guidelines. Using modified Ratio of Recommended to Restricted Food Components, 66% of food items scored Conclusions and Implications Tween television programming regularly includes non-nutritious food, which likely influences tweens' attitudes and behaviors. Television programming may consider past approaches to tobacco smoking and health messages on television. More attention is warranted regarding television programming by nutrition educators, researchers, health professionals, and industry specialists.