- Email: [email protected]
O8 Evaluation of Marshall University Smarter Food Pantry
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Oral Abstracts
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior Volume 51, Number 7S, 2019
O7 (continued) Measurable Outcome/Analysis: The survey inquired about demographics, financial and living status, food security, stress, and campus dining. The 6-item Household Food Security Survey (HFSS) was used to assess food security status both in the 30 days prior to the survey and over the entire semester. HFSS scores between two and six indicate food insecurity. ANOVA and t-tests were used to compare means. Results: Based on HFSS scoring, 20.3% (n = 108) and 19.2% (n = 102) of participants reported low or extremely low food security over the semester, respectively. Upperclassmen respondents (n = 224) had significantly higher HFSS scores than underclassmen (2.47 + 2.42 and 1.28 + 1.88, respectively,= P < .0001). However, more underclassmen purchased meal plans. Underclassmen participants on an unlimited-access meal plan had significantly lower HFSS scores and therefore, higher food security, than students with 150-180 meals per semester (0.85 + 1.46 and 2.57 + 2.33, respectively, P < .0001). Conclusion: Most students at liberal arts colleges purchase a meal plan. Students on an unlimited-access meal plan are more likely to be food secure. However, many students cannot afford the cost of an unlimited meal-plan and that may play a contributing role to food insecurity risk. Funding: Carneige Mellon “Becoming Community” Grant.
O8 Evaluation of Marshall University Smarter Food Pantry Kelli Williams, PhD, LD, RDN, [email protected], Marshall University, One John Marshall Dr, Huntington, WV 25755; Mary Kathryn Gould, EdD, LD, RDN, Marshall University; Mallory Mount, MS, LD, RDN, Marshall University; Amy Gannon, MS, LD, RDN, Marshall University; Alicia Fox, LD, RDN, MS, Marshall University Objective: To improve the nutritional quality of foods selected by clients at a university food pantry. Use of Theory or Research: Collaborative research through Cornell University and Feeding America has identified that small changes to food pantry environments can lead to healthier choices. Researchers found nudges increase the likelihood and average amount of healthier items selected by clients at pantries. Hunger + Health (2016), a partner of Feeding America, noted nudge interventions increased the likelihood of a client selecting one healthy food item by 46%, on average. Target Audience: College students and other clients at a university food pantry. Program Description: The Marshall University Smarter Food Pantry is committed to providing and promoting healthy food choices at home. The pantry is operated through the Department of Dietetics and utilizes Marshall’s Nutrition Education Program (NEP) to incorporate policy, systems, and environmental changes. Evaluation Methods: Registered dietitian nutritionists and dietetic interns performed a process evaluation and determined changes necessary to influence healthier
client options/choices at the pantry and implemented these changes. Results: Alongside Feeding America, Marshall University’s food pantry, open to both students and community members, has made changes to promote healthier eating. Currently, the pantry has: moved location of healthier items to promote exposure and provide educational opportunities by food pantry staff and volunteers, provided labeling for food items, provided positive nutritional messages and promotion utilizing bulletin boards and posters, provided MyPlate promotion and how to fill a healthy plate with foods available in the pantry, developed healthy recipes for items available in the pantry, held targeted food drives on campus for healthy food items and donations for crockpots, and implemented plan to provide food samples in future to promote preparation of healthy items at home. Conclusions: Because of pantry reorganization, healthier items are available and promoted regularly to clients. Preliminary results indicated that clients select healthier options. Plans to evaluate measurable outcomes are being developed. Funding: SNAP-Ed.
O9 A Text-Delivered Intervention to Improve Dietary Habits, Stress Management Behaviors and Create Awareness of Food Assistance Resources Among College Students Dorcas Mukigi, PhD, MS, BS, Auburn University; Onikia Brown, PhD, MS, BS, RDN, [email protected], Auburn University, 102A Poultry Science Bldg, 260 Lem Morrison, Auburn, AL 36879 Background: Prior research indicate that text messaging is fully incorporated in the day-to-day lives of college students, and it provides opportunities in which behavior change interventions can be delivered. Objective: To evaluate acceptance and effectiveness of health-related text messages on college students’ dietary habits, stress management behaviors and awareness of food assistance resources. Study Design, Settings, Participants: Stratified random sampling was used to assign participants into either a control or intervention group. A total of 46 college students (ages 18-24 = 63%, 57% food insecure) participated in the study. The intervention group participants received three text messages per week for seven weeks, and the control group received the same information in an email attachment at post-intervention. Measurable Outcome/Analysis: Measures included pre- and post- online surveys that assessed the students’ fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, sugar-sweetened beverage intake, mealtime behavior, perceived stress, hours of sleep, and awareness of food assistance resources, and selfreported weight and height. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze baseline demographic, food security status and anthropometric characteristics. Repeated measures ANOVA with fixed effects of time and group were perContinued on page S5
Oral Abstracts
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior Volume 51, Number 7S, 2019
O7 (continued) Measurable Outcome/Analysis: The survey inquired about demographics, financial and living status, food security, stress, and campus dining. The 6-item Household Food Security Survey (HFSS) was used to assess food security status both in the 30 days prior to the survey and over the entire semester. HFSS scores between two and six indicate food insecurity. ANOVA and t-tests were used to compare means. Results: Based on HFSS scoring, 20.3% (n = 108) and 19.2% (n = 102) of participants reported low or extremely low food security over the semester, respectively. Upperclassmen respondents (n = 224) had significantly higher HFSS scores than underclassmen (2.47 + 2.42 and 1.28 + 1.88, respectively,= P < .0001). However, more underclassmen purchased meal plans. Underclassmen participants on an unlimited-access meal plan had significantly lower HFSS scores and therefore, higher food security, than students with 150-180 meals per semester (0.85 + 1.46 and 2.57 + 2.33, respectively, P < .0001). Conclusion: Most students at liberal arts colleges purchase a meal plan. Students on an unlimited-access meal plan are more likely to be food secure. However, many students cannot afford the cost of an unlimited meal-plan and that may play a contributing role to food insecurity risk. Funding: Carneige Mellon “Becoming Community” Grant.
O8 Evaluation of Marshall University Smarter Food Pantry Kelli Williams, PhD, LD, RDN, [email protected], Marshall University, One John Marshall Dr, Huntington, WV 25755; Mary Kathryn Gould, EdD, LD, RDN, Marshall University; Mallory Mount, MS, LD, RDN, Marshall University; Amy Gannon, MS, LD, RDN, Marshall University; Alicia Fox, LD, RDN, MS, Marshall University Objective: To improve the nutritional quality of foods selected by clients at a university food pantry. Use of Theory or Research: Collaborative research through Cornell University and Feeding America has identified that small changes to food pantry environments can lead to healthier choices. Researchers found nudges increase the likelihood and average amount of healthier items selected by clients at pantries. Hunger + Health (2016), a partner of Feeding America, noted nudge interventions increased the likelihood of a client selecting one healthy food item by 46%, on average. Target Audience: College students and other clients at a university food pantry. Program Description: The Marshall University Smarter Food Pantry is committed to providing and promoting healthy food choices at home. The pantry is operated through the Department of Dietetics and utilizes Marshall’s Nutrition Education Program (NEP) to incorporate policy, systems, and environmental changes. Evaluation Methods: Registered dietitian nutritionists and dietetic interns performed a process evaluation and determined changes necessary to influence healthier
client options/choices at the pantry and implemented these changes. Results: Alongside Feeding America, Marshall University’s food pantry, open to both students and community members, has made changes to promote healthier eating. Currently, the pantry has: moved location of healthier items to promote exposure and provide educational opportunities by food pantry staff and volunteers, provided labeling for food items, provided positive nutritional messages and promotion utilizing bulletin boards and posters, provided MyPlate promotion and how to fill a healthy plate with foods available in the pantry, developed healthy recipes for items available in the pantry, held targeted food drives on campus for healthy food items and donations for crockpots, and implemented plan to provide food samples in future to promote preparation of healthy items at home. Conclusions: Because of pantry reorganization, healthier items are available and promoted regularly to clients. Preliminary results indicated that clients select healthier options. Plans to evaluate measurable outcomes are being developed. Funding: SNAP-Ed.
O9 A Text-Delivered Intervention to Improve Dietary Habits, Stress Management Behaviors and Create Awareness of Food Assistance Resources Among College Students Dorcas Mukigi, PhD, MS, BS, Auburn University; Onikia Brown, PhD, MS, BS, RDN, [email protected], Auburn University, 102A Poultry Science Bldg, 260 Lem Morrison, Auburn, AL 36879 Background: Prior research indicate that text messaging is fully incorporated in the day-to-day lives of college students, and it provides opportunities in which behavior change interventions can be delivered. Objective: To evaluate acceptance and effectiveness of health-related text messages on college students’ dietary habits, stress management behaviors and awareness of food assistance resources. Study Design, Settings, Participants: Stratified random sampling was used to assign participants into either a control or intervention group. A total of 46 college students (ages 18-24 = 63%, 57% food insecure) participated in the study. The intervention group participants received three text messages per week for seven weeks, and the control group received the same information in an email attachment at post-intervention. Measurable Outcome/Analysis: Measures included pre- and post- online surveys that assessed the students’ fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, sugar-sweetened beverage intake, mealtime behavior, perceived stress, hours of sleep, and awareness of food assistance resources, and selfreported weight and height. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze baseline demographic, food security status and anthropometric characteristics. Repeated measures ANOVA with fixed effects of time and group were perContinued on page S5