Healthy Choices for Every Body Adult Curriculum Improves Participants' Food Resource Management Skills and Food Safety Practices

Objective

To evaluate the impact of the University of Kentucky's Healthy Choices for Every Body (HCEB) adult nutrition education curriculum on participants' food resource management (FRM) skills and food safety practices.

Dietary Intake Changes in Response to a Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Reduction Trial for Various Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Eligibility Groups

Objective

To examine dietary intake differences resulting from a sugar-sweetened beverage reduction intervention by 3 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation groups: SNAP participants (n?=?56), income-eligible nonparticipants (n?=?30), and income-ineligible nonparticipants (n?=?60).

Efficacy of a Home-Based Parent Training-Focused Weight Management Intervention for Preschool Children: The DRIVE Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

ObjectivesTo pilot-test a home-based parent training intervention aimed at maintaining body weight among children at risk for obesity (> the 75th body mass index percentile).MethodsSixteen parent–child dyads were randomized to a health education or Developing Relationships that Include Values of Eating and Exercise (DRIVE) intervention arm. The DRIVE curriculum was a structured parenting program to promote healthy weight in children by relying on behavioral principles to promote skill acquisition in the family's natural setting. Body weight and waist circumference were measured at baseline and weeks 9 and 19.ResultsBody mass index z-score, body weight, and percent body weight increased in children in the health education arm vs DRIVE at weeks 9 and 19. Body weight, percent body weight, and waist circumference decreased in parents in DRIVE vs the health education arm at week 19, whereas no differences were shown at week 9.Conclusions and ImplicationsThe DRIVE program mitigated weight gain in a small sample of at-risk children and showed promising results in reducing weight in parents. Home-based interventions emphasizing parent–child interactions are indicated as a practical model to deliver weight management in children.     

Ability to Categorize Food Predicts Hypothetical Food Choices in Head Start Preschoolers

Objective

To investigate whether preschoolers are able to identify and categorize foods, and whether their ability to classify food as healthy predicts their hypothetical food choice.

Art on a Plate: A Pilot Evaluation of an International Initiative Designed to Promote Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables by Children

ObjectiveTo evaluate the 2016 International Chefs Day cooking workshops Art on a Plate.DesignNonexperimental pretest-posttest designSettingArt on a Plate workshops with children from 14 countries in Asia, America, and Europe.ParticipantsA total of 433 workshop participants aged 4–14 years (mean age, 8.6 years).InterventionInstructed by a chef, children in the workshops created a self-chosen design on their plate with a spinach–fruit salad.Main Outcome MeasuresBefore and after the workshop, a questionnaire assessing liking and willingness to eat or taste; hunger was assessed using the Teddy the Bear method and emotions were assessed using the Self-assessment Manikin. The event coordinator evaluated salad intake.AnalysisLinear and generalized linear (logit) mixed models were used to test statistical differences before and after the workshop.ResultsThe workshop resulted in a small increase in liking (n = 409; P = .02) and person control (n = 375; P < .001) and a decrease in hunger (n = 379; P < .001). A total of 30% of children increased their liking scores, 18% decreased them, and 52% did not change them. Significant associations of liking and change in liking with salad intake were in the expected direction.Conclusion and ImplicationsThis study showed the positive effect of a cooking workshop on children's salad liking across a selection of countries worldwide. Further research and novel methods are needed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of cooking activities in real-life settings across countries.     

Factors Influencing Dietary Practices Among Ghanaian Residents and Liberians Living in a Protracted Refugee Situation in Ghana

ObjectiveExamine dietary practices among Liberian refugees living in a protracted refugee situation and Ghanaians living among them.DesignQualitative data were collected via audio-taped in-depth interviews as part of a larger mixed-methods cross-sectional study.SettingBuduburam Refugee Settlement and neighboring villages, Ghana.ParticipantsTwenty-seven Liberian and Ghanaian women aged ≥16 years, who lived with ≥1 other female generation.Phenomenon of InterestSimilarities and differences in factors influencing dietary practices among Liberian refugees living in Buduburam Refugee Settlement and Ghanaians living in and around this settlement.AnalysisDomains, themes, and subthemes were confirmed through a highly iterative coding and consensus process. ATLAS.ti (version 7.5.10) was used to finalize coding and extract quotations.ResultsSeven domains emerged forming direct and indirect pathways influencing dietary patterns among Liberian refugees and Ghanaians: social support, food availability, nutrition knowledge, cultural food beliefs, food access, food preparation, and national identity.Conclusions and ImplicationsFindings provide important insights into crucial factors driving dietary practices among refugees and local communities in and around a former protracted refugee settlement. Results strongly suggest that nutrition education, food availability, and access issues should be addressed with culturally sensitive programs targeting both the refugee and host communities.     

Foods Served in Child Care Facilities Participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program: Menu Match and Agreement with the New Meal Patterns and Best Practices

Objective

To assess the agreement of posted menus with foods served to 3- to 5-year-old children attending federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)-enrolled facilities, and the degree to which the facilities met the new meal patterns and best practices.

Rethinking Medicaid Coverage and Payment Policy to Promote High Value Care: The Case of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception

Context

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is the most effective reversible method to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Variability in state-level policies and the high cost of LARC could create substantial inconsistencies in Medicaid coverage, despite federal guidance aimed at enhancing broad access. This study surveyed state Medicaid payment policies and outreach activities related to LARC to explore the scope of services covered.