Other Nutrition Commons^™

The Registered Dietitian Nutritionist’S Implementation Of Dysphagia Screening In Clinical Practice: A Commentary, Nicole Wiksten, Holly Estes-Doetsch, Laura C. Boucher, Sarah Rusnak, Kristen M. Roberts

Journal of Dietetic Education

Background: The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) amended the competencies for the future education model (FEM) in dietetic education to include competency 3.6 stating that the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) must be able to "Initiate and conduct bedside swallow screenings". There is no clear process for RDNs to implement dysphagia screening in practice or academia. The aim of this review is to inform clinicians and educators on current literature discussing current RDN and speech language pathology approaches to dysphagia screening and to provide a proposed curriculum for implementation of competency 3.6 in clinical practice and academia.

Assessing And Addressing Cultural Competence And Cultural Humility In Dietetic Education, Zoe Duran, Nicholas Slagel, Lisa Caldwell, Katie Kage

Journal of Dietetic Education

Limited theory-informed, dietetic-specific resources are available to guide the development, evaluation, and refinement of culturally competent (CC) curricula. This pilot study used a mixed-methods, theory-informed approach to evaluate CC integration within an undergraduate dietetics curriculum and examine the applicability of existing CC self-assessment tools for dietetic students. A senior-level undergraduate community nutrition curriculum was evaluated using the Tool for Assessing Cultural Competence Training (TACCT), guided by the Campinha-Bacote Model of Cultural Competence in Healthcare Delivery. James Banks’ Model of Multicultural Curriculum Reform was then applied to refine curricular content and learning activities. In addition, 74 students enrolled in a didactic …

Virtual Reality: The Future Of Didactic And Experiential Education For Nutrition And Dietetics, Michael Holik, Dexter Richardson

Journal of Dietetic Education

The integration of virtual reality (VR) into nutrition and dietetics education provides an innovative answer to challenges in accessing experiential learning. This study examined student perceptions of immersive VR experiences designed to simulate hospital foodservice operations and nutrition counseling sessions, guided by the Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DOI). A quasi-experimental design involved 55 participants who engaged with 360° VR modules featuring interactive elements, avatars representing key healthcare roles, and embedded critical-thinking questions. Results demonstrated strong support for VR’s educational value across DOI’s five key attributes: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Participants reported enhanced understanding of registered dietitian roles, …

Editors' Message, Volume 4, Issue 2, Diana Cuy Castellanos, M Elizabeth (Beth) Miller

Journal of Dietetic Education

In this edition, you will find research on the use of virtual reality in experiential food service learning, instruments to assess cultural competency and humility in dietetic students, and tools for measuring empathy—an area of growing importance in dietetic pedagogy. Additionally, this issue explores the inclusion of disability-related curricula in education programs and features a commentary on RDNs implementing swallow screenings within clinical practice, highlighting how this procedure falls within an RDN’s scope of practice when supported by proper training and demonstrated competency.

Cover, Table Of Contents, About The Journal

Journal of Dietetic Education

No abstract provided.

Campus Food Recovery: Balancing Sustainability And Student Needs, Scott T. Taylor Jr., Wenhao Zhang, Robin B. Dipietro, Mary Stein, Junehee Kwon

ICHRIE Research Reports

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a food recovery program at a large university on food waste reduction and food insecurity mitigation. The primary goal of the food recovery program was two-fold: to help provide ready-to-eat meals for students facing food insecurity and to help the campus food service provider minimize post-production food waste. Thus, food was recovered from multiple dining outlets on a large university campus in the southeast United States. To ensure a valid comparison between 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years, a 3-month period during the spring semesters in 2023 and 2024 was …

Transforming Dietetics Curriculum: A Culinary Nutrition Certificate Grounded In Competency-Based Innovation, Jennifer R. Watson, Rachel C. Sinley, Jangwoo Jo

Journal of Dietetic Education

Culinary nutrition has become a promising interdisciplinary field that combines culinary arts and nutritional science to enhance health outcomes through practical, food-based education. As the healthcare landscape increasingly emphasizes preventive care, dietitians are well-positioned to lead culinary nutrition initiatives; however, formal training opportunities remain scarce. To address this gap, Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) created a new Culinary Nutrition Certificate that combines experiential cooking coursework from the School of Hospitality with core nutrition education from the Department of Nutrition. This paper places the certificate within the broader context of culinary nutrition and dietetics education, emphasizing the importance of …

Editors’ Message, Diana Cuy Castellanos, M Elizabeth (Beth) Miller

Journal of Dietetic Education

This edition of the Journal of Dietetic Education highlights specialized skill training and attainment and interprofessional collaboration in dietetic students. Our featured original research explores how we prepare students for the complexities of current practice—ranging from the digital documentation of the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) to the integration of culinary medicine.

Cover, Table Of Contents, About The Journal

Journal of Dietetic Education

No abstract provided.

Food Access And Food Insecurity Among Early Childhood Educators And Staff Prior To And During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study, Rahel Mathews, Leah Pylate, Will Davis, Elizabeth Thorne, Jamila Taylor, Shecoya White, Bennett Pope, Emma Bryant

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Emerging research indicates that 40% of early childhood education (ECE) workers experience food insecurity. The purpose of this study was to describe the food insecurity and food access of Head Start teachers and staff in Mississippi before the COVID-19 pandemic and to understand how COVID-19 affected food access. A mixed-methods design was employed using cross-sectional surveys, at two different time points, and three focus groups. Three Head Start centers from the Mississippi Coast participated. Approximately 52% of teacher and staff respondents experienced food insecurity before COVID-19; during the pandemic, their level of food insecurity worsened from low to very low …

Examining Weight Bias Attitude Changes After Exposure To A Brief Photovoice Assignment, Gretchen L. George, Hillary L. Roberts, Kristin Rose, Madison Clemens, Kate G. Burt

Journal of Dietetic Education

Weight bias is present among pre-health professional students (e.g., nutrition, dietetics, nursing, physical therapy, medicine). Educators need support and guidelines about how to enhance learning through engaging assignments while also meeting accreditation requirements. This pilot study examined the impact of an innovative weight bias assignment using photovoice and reflection within existing nutrition education courses, measured through pre-post assessments from the Fat Attitudes Assessment Toolkit. While not all subscales showed significant change, improvements in the Fat Acceptance and Attribution Complexity Composites suggest these methods may be effective in shifting attitudes about fatness. Further research is needed to assess the long-term impact …

Cover, Table Of Contents, About The Journal, Diana Cuy Castellanos, M Elizabeth (Beth) Miller

Journal of Dietetic Education

No abstract provided.

Editors' Message, Diana Cuy Castellanos, M Elizabeth (Beth) Miller

Journal of Dietetic Education

No abstract provided.

Interventions Of Eating Habits And Healthy Behaviors, Diego Armando Mazariegos Espinosa

Undergraduate Honors Theses

About thirty to fifty percent of college students report having negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, sadness, anger, hopelessness, shame, fear, and more. And over seventy percent feel exhausted or overwhelmed by schoolwork. According to scholarly research, these emotions pose obstacles during college life impacting the eating habits and healthy behaviors of college students. These habits can have a possibility of bringing lifelong issues in social, educational, and self-esteem aspects. Technology has revolutionized the world in a spectacular way in a short period of time. As students today have access to all sorts of technology like phones and computers, the …

Factors Related To The Incidence Of Hypertension Among People Above 18 Years At The Cibatu Public Health Center, Bekasi Regency, Verizka Azra, Yustiyani Yustiyani, Minsarnawati Minsarnawati, Catur Rosidati

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Hypertension is a non-communicable disease that still becomes a public health issue. The percentage of hypertension cases at Cibatu Public Health Center increased from 31.7% in 2021 to 37% in 2022. Based on a preliminary study, hypertension was found to be the most common non-communicable disease at Cibatu Public Health Center. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the incidence of hypertension among individuals aged 18 years and older at Cibatu Public Health Center, Bekasi Regency, in 2024.We conducted a cross-sectional study in May involving 121 respondents. This study used standardized questionnaires that had been validated in previous research, …

Cultivating Community And Commerce: A Summary Of The Statewide Social And Economic Impacts Of Utah Farmers Markets, Jaclyn Pace, Bryn Watkins, Roslynn Mccann, Steven Price

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Data collected from six markets throughout the market seasons between 2023 and 2024 highlights the transformative impact of Utah’s farmers’ markets on the state’s economy, health, and sense of community. According to market patrons, Utah’s farmers' markets are vital economic and social hubs supporting local agriculture, small businesses, and community well-being.

Priming For Practice: A Teaching Strategy, Jennifer Tomesko, Diane L. Rigassio Radler

Journal of Dietetic Education

Authors present a brief educational teaching strategy.

Use Of Simulation In Dietetic Internships: A Qualitative Exploration Of Program Director Attitudes And Motivations, Theresa B. O'Reilly, Amy J. Nwora, Megan Whelan, Mary-Pat Maciolek

Journal of Dietetic Education

The use of simulation holds promise for the future of dietetics education for its use as an alternative for up to 30% of the 1,000 supervised practice hours for the training of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Even more so, simulation is a teaching tool. When done well, simulation can challenge students in a safe environment where they can receive constructive feedback from expert guides and meaningfully reflect on their learning. The purpose of this study was to interview dietetic internship (DI) program directors on their attitudes and motivations on the use of simulation in their programs, targeting the heavily program-congested states …

Cover, Editor's Message, Table Of Contents, Diana Cuy Castellanos

Journal of Dietetic Education

No abstract provided.

Becoming The Donkey Derby’S ‘Karen’: A Humane Educator’S Autoethnographic Journey Toward Anti-Speciesist Communication, Jesika Keener

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Language not only carries oppression as an educative force, but research indicates that language is inherently speciesist and highly pervasive (Ethical Globe, 2021; Guevara Labaca, 2017; Hamlett, 2024; Leach et al., 2023). However, the ontological commitment to speciesism is historically foundational, which makes the total eradication of speciesist communication only viable through an unemerged hypothetical future society (Kahn, 2011). For the possibilities of such a world to come into being, pivotal steps must first be taken to critically engage with the communicated forms of speciesism in order to better understand it and actively resist its reproduction—with the aspiration for this …

Changes In Nutrition, Food Safety, And Physical Activity Behaviors: A Comparison Between The Peak Health And Performance And Teen Cuisine Curricula, Tyler B. Becker, Ronald J. Gibbs Jr.

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This study compared the Peak Health and Performance curriculum (PHP) to the Teen Cuisine curriculum (TC) on improving nutrition, food safety, and physical activity (PA) behaviors among youth. The quasi-experimental study was conducted in Michigan middle and high schools and included 1007 5th- through 12th-grade students, who participated in either the PHP or the TC curriculum. There were 465 students in the PHP group and 495 students in the TC group. Nutrition, food safety, and PA behaviors were surveyed before and after each program. Individual curriculum pre- and post-scores were compared using a paired t-test, and between-group changes were examined …

Five A Day, The Rainbow Way: A Nutrition Education Toolkit For Elementary School Aged Children, Sasha Menard

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Learning Outcome: Develop a nutrition educational toolkit based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) for obesity prevention among elementary school-aged children by improving determinants of fruit and vegetable intake.

Background: Poor consumption of fruits and vegetables is a major contributing factor to childhood obesity, increasing the risk for chronic diseases later in life. There is a need for multicomponent nutrition educational tools to influence children to improve their eating behavior by increasing their awareness and self-efficacy. The current project describes the development of a 3-component toolkit for improving participants’ knowledge and values related to fruit and vegetable intake among 6-11-year-olds.

Methods: …

Emotional Eating In Adolescents With Obesity: Case Series, Paula Dayan

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Childhood obesity remains a significant public health concern, with substantial implications for physical and mental well-being. This thesis aims to explore the intricate relationship between emotional eating and obesity among adolescents, with a focus on identifying emotional triggers and assessing their psychological impact. Utilizing a cross-sectional study design at a university in southern California, data were collected from two adolescents aged 13-18 years. Through surveys and body composition measurements, participants' emotional barriers to weight loss and readiness for change were assessed. The findings underscore the presence of varying degrees of emotional hurdles among adolescents with obesity, including depression, frustration, and …

Nutrition And Dietetics Educators’ Experiences Using Systems Thinking In Teaching, Erin E. Bergquist, Lyndi Buckingham-Schutt, Scott Smalley, Christina G. Campbell, Awoke Dollisso, Shuyang Qu

Journal of Dietetic Education

Objective: Describe educator experiences teaching systems thinking in nutrition and dietetics education. Design: Qualitative, semi-structured, online interviews. Setting: Educators teaching in accredited nutrition and dietetics programs. Participants: Purposive sample of thirteen Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (92% female, 77% with > 6 years teaching experience) from each U.S. census region and accredited program type. Phenomenon of Interest: Educators described experiences teaching systems thinking in accredited programs, including benefits. Analysis: Transcribed interviews were analyzed using qualitative grounded theory iterative coding. Excel was used for data organization and thematic coding analysis. Results: Educators described four themes when teaching systems thinking: (1) a holistic approach to …

Student Exposure To Andhii Improves Confidence With Applying The Nutrition Care Process, Casey Colin, Tad Campbell, Michel Harris, Avalon Mustafa, Lindsay Woodcock

Journal of Dietetic Education

The objective of this study was to explore if using ANDHII improves NCP confidence and documentation quality. This quasi-experimental trial was conducted with n = 43 undergraduate dietetic students. NCP confidence was measured before and after a traditional case study, and after an ANDHII case study. Documentation quality was measured using a validated quality audit tool. Confidence increased from time 1 to time 2 (p = 0.008), and from time 2 to time 3 (p = 0.003). Documentation quality was higher for the ANDHII documentation compared to the non-ANDHII documentation (p < 0.001) but lower when compared to the traditional ADIME (p = 0.03). Familiarizing students with ANDHII improved NCP confidence. Opportunities exist to improve ANDHII functionality and positively impact documentation quality.

Perceptions Of Assessment Processes, Enhanced Competency Integration, And Practice Preparation Among Future Education Model Graduate Program Alumni, Katherine Wiley, Pamela Rothpletz-Puglia, Laura Byham-Gray, Jennifer Tomesko

Journal of Dietetic Education

Background: Competency-based assessment (CBE) focuses on applying knowledge and skills to progress from novice to expert in clinical areas. The Future Education Model Graduate Program (FEMGP) incorporates CBE to meet enhanced competencies for nutrition and dietetics. Objective: This study explored FEMGP graduates’ perceptions of assessment methods and practices and perceptions of enhanced competency (EC) integration and preparedness for entry-level practice. Methods: This was a basic descriptive qualitative study. Ninety-eight graduates from one FEMGP in the northeastern US were recruited via email to participate in one of 13 virtual focus groups from April-June of 2023. Directed content analysis was conducted with …

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists’ Knowledge, Confidence, And Experiences With Treating Trafficked Individuals: A Call For Interprofessional Continuing Education, Christen C. Cooper, Lydia Mcroberts

Journal of Dietetic Education

Background: Victims of human trafficking (HT) frequently face malnutrition, dehydration, low food security, and infections. When identified, victims of HT are normally treated with interprofessional team (IPT) care that often excludes Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). Although RDNs are trained to treat these conditions, they may lack knowledge, confidence, and skills, for working with this population, as well as the opportunities to work on such IPTs. To date, no study has explored RDNs’ knowledge of or work with individuals who are trafficked. Objective: To explore RDNs’: HT knowledge, confidence in the ability to work with victims of HT, and barriers to …

Learning At Diabetes Camp: Experiential And Interprofessional Opportunities For Dietetics Students, Mallory Mount, Mary Kathryn Gould

Journal of Dietetic Education

Diabetes camp is helpful in providing hands-on learning experiences and interprofessional learning opportunities through immersive experiences. Currently, there is little research comparing the changes in knowledge and perception during experiential learning in dietetics students at a residential diabetes camp. This longitudinal qualitative case study explored the knowledge, perceptions, confidence, and empathy gained by four dietetics students during experiential learning at the camp. Qualitative research methods (interviews, observations, "photovoice," journals, and focus groups) were used to explore and understand participants’ experiences of hands-on involvement with type one diabetes, and what they learned at camp that cannot be learned in a classroom. …

Interprofessional Education In Dietetics Programs: Student And Director Perspectives, Mckenna Voorhees, Heidi J. Wengreen, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Katie N. Kraus

Journal of Dietetic Education

Background: Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (IPCP) supports optimal healthcare outcomes; accordingly, dietetic program accreditation standards require interprofessional-related education (IPE). Objective: To explore IPE implementation and evaluation of IPE in dietetics curricula, and how these relate to director confidence in students and student satisfaction. Main Outcome Measures: IPE approaches (lectures, assignments, direct experience, case studies/facilitated multidisciplinary interactions), Timing of IPE (years 1, 2, 3, 4, other), director confidence (10-level scale), student IPE satisfaction (7-level scale) Statistical Analyses Performed: The strength and direction of correlation between number of IPE methods with director confidence/student satisfaction, and time spent on IPE with director confidence were …

Editors' Message, Sara Tamsukhin, Christine Meissner

Journal of Dietetic Education

In this issue of the Journal of Dietetic Education, we share a special section for interprofessional education (IPE). The articles highlight potential avenues for interprofessional education in dietetics programs and continuing education for dietetics professionals. Each article offers insight into the landscape of dietetic education and the need for IPE. Dietetic students learn from IPE experiences in their programs. However, additional IPE occurs through outside experiences and throughout a dietitian’s career.