Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

School Food Environment The Frontline For Childhood Obesity Prevention: A Mixed-Method Study Of Nutritional Competencies And Skills Of School Nutriiton Professionals In Nebraska, Zainab Rida

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this statewide study was to address the nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of school foodservice personnel in Nebraska regarding offering/serving healthy school meals. Moreover, this study identified some potential barriers and avenues of action for offering/serving healthy school meals. Data obtained from this study indicates that there is a strong correlation (r= .103, p r .237, p< .01) between the foodservice staff’s self-efficacy and their practices of offering/serving healthy school meals. Fortunately, the relationship between foodservice staff practices of offering/serving healthy school meals and their self-efficacy was positive and significantly predicted practices scores, β =.237, P< 0.01. The finding of the present study also identifies many barriers including lack of time and support that face the foodservice personnel in offering/serving healthy school meals. The findings suggested that there is an urgent need of a full school approach to promote and encourage healthy eating habits among students. Future research is needed to evaluate school wellness policies regarding healthy eating practices in schools. Moreover, establish partnerships with communities and universities for intervention that target students and their parents.

Advisor: Wanda Koszewski

Dietitian’S Problem Solving Knowledge To Promote And Support Breastfeeding, Cassandra L. Dytrych

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

As a result of ongoing efforts in the U.S. to promote breastfeeding as the normal way to nourish an infant, breastfeeding initiation rates are higher than they have been in decades. As the experts on food and nutrition through the lifecycle, registered dietitians (RDs) should be knowledgeable to promote and support breastfeeding. It is not well known if RDs have this knowledge. The purpose of this study was to determine the current knowledge of RDs about breastfeeding, the types of professional opportunities RDs have to promote and support breastfeeding, and the level of education RDs have to deal with breastfeeding …

Breakfast Consumption Habits Of Youth Living In Low Income Neighborhoods In A Large Three County Metropolitan Area, Elijah Dacy

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify youth attitudes, frequency of, and barriers for breakfast consumption and the use of available nutrition programs by youth living in poverty or food insecure households in a large three county metropolitan area. Methods: A phone survey was developed and tested in order to collect information on breakfast consumption habits and attitudes of children, targeted as food insecure. There were no incentives for persons to participate in the survey and all information gathered was kept in a secure place at the Center for Human Nutrition. Participants who were allowed to …

Mixed Methods Analysis Of School Wellness Programs In Nebraska And Indiana: A Descriptive Study, Jessica A. Robinson

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Schools have become one of the major fronts that the battle against childhood obesity is being fought. In 2004 the Child Nutrition Act passed by Congress required all school districts receiving funds for the National School Lunch Program to create a wellness policy. Since then there have been many research projects conducted to learn more about these policies, and their implementation as programs in the schools. Thus far, no such research has been done in Nebraska or Indiana. The purpose of this descriptive study is to describe how schools in Nebraska and Indiana are implementing wellness programs in their schools. …