Abstract Parenting Nutrition Skills Workshops: An Evaluation of Facilitated Group Discussions to Enhance Parenting Nutrition Self-Efficacy By: Lisa Dawes, RD, CDE This research study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of using facilitated group discussion (FGD), a less traditional method of nutrition education, for increasing parents’ feelings of self-efficacy in their ability to make nutrition-related decisions, and to set and enforce nutrition-related boundaries with their children. Childhood obesity is on the rise; poor food choices, portion control, and inactivity are identified as contributing causes. Parents play a major role in creating healthy habits and providing a well-balanced diet for their children. Caregivers who act as the nutrition and behavior gatekeepers were targeted in this intervention. The objective of the current study was to enhance parenting nutrition education and identify barriers to healthy feeding practices in order to optimize nutrition and eating behavior. Twenty-one parents and three grandparents (n = 24) of preschool and school-aged children participated in one-hour FGD parenting nutrition skills workshops. Parent volunteers participated in one of four workshops in a Central California community. Prior to the workshop, topics for discussion were chosen from common feeding issues determined in the literature such as food-related decisions at various locations (home, school, dining out, on the road); feeding jags; and dealing with a picky eater. Parents completed validated questionnaires both before and immediately following the workshops. Two weeks after the workshops, parents were interviewed by telephone to measure longer-term impact of the FGD. Pre- and post-workshop questionnaires demonstrated that mean self-confidence levels significantly increased for the ability to set and enforce nutrition-related boundaries for their children directly after, and two weeks after participating in the FGD. Parents also demonstrated an increase in mean self-confidence levels in their ability to purchase nutritious foods and offer those foods to their children two weeks after participating in the FGD. Behaviors associated with an authoritative parenting style—such as modeling healthy eating; encouraging healthy food intake; and offering healthy foods without forcing the child to eat—were significantly higher two weeks after participating in the FGD. Significance may be attributed to the method of information delivery (FGD), the curriculum Feeding the Kids (FtK), or authoritative parents being more receptive to receiving new information, or a combination of all three. Overall, research results suggest that the use of FGD, coupled with a visual tool such as the Chat Mat created for this project, increased parents’ feelings of self-efficacy and elicited positive nutrition-related behaviors in adopting healthy feeding strategies for their children. Keywords: Nutrition education, facilitated group discussion, self-efficacy, parenting styles, feeding strategies, parenting nutrition skills

Nannies impact the development of children; however, research is nonexistent regarding their influence on children’s eating habits. The purpose of this study was to examine nannies’ nutrition knowledge, feeding behaviors, and beliefs about children and eating. In a descriptive, cross-sectional study, 83 nannies responded to an electronic survey. Respondents were White (94%, n=78), females (100%, n=83) and full-time employees (73.2%, n=60) of one family (82.1%, n=64). Nannies’ mean raw score was 24 out of 32 points resulting In 75% correct in nutrition knowledge. No significant correlations were found between scores and age (p=.51), education (/?=.73), or employment years (/?=.47). Responses to interaction statements indicated more authoritarian (35.8%, n=24) and indulgent (32.8%, n=22) feeding styles towards children than authoritative (14.9%, n=10) or uninvolved (16.4%, n=ll). Nannies believed that parents/guardians (66%, n=45) had the greatest influence on children’s eating habits, however, perceived they had high influence (79.4%, n=54). Although nannies exhibited average nutrition knowledge, their authoritarian and indulgent feeding styles may result in poor nutritional habits for the children. While it is important for nannies to attend nutrition education sessions, it is vital for nannies to obtain knowledge on how the various feeding styles affect a child’s nutrition. ­

A study was made of the adaptation to dietary protein of nitrogenous components in blood and urine of rats and humans. Forty-four mature male rats "ere adapted to a low protein diet (10 per cent casein diet) for three weeks before they were divided into two groups. Four rats were then killed for a control, and twenty of the remaining rats were switched to a high protein diet (40 per cent casein diet) and the other twenty continued to be fed the low protein diet. Four rats fed each level of protein were killed 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days after they were divided into two groups. A study similar to that carried out on rats was conducted on six male college students who were living in the same unit of a cooking dormitory. Blood and urine samples were taken when they were eating a normal diet as a control and then they were adapted on a low protein dict providing 12 per cent of the calories as protein for two weeks. They were then switched to a high protein diet containing 30 per cent protein calories for four consecutive days. The rats fed the 40 per cent casein diet had a higher rate of weight gain and increased amounts of urine per 24 hours than the rats fed the 10 per cent casein diet. Urinary output of the human subjects on the diets containing 30 per cent protein calories was greater than when they received the 12 per cent protein calorie diet. There was a significant increase in total nitrogen and urea in serum and urine of rats and humans as the dietary protein level increased. The urinary excretion of uric acid, of creatinine in humans, and of urinary amino nitrogen and total serum protein in rats and humans were also increased appreciably as the protein intake increased. Ko significant effects or trends in serum amino nitrogen of humans, or serum creatinine in rats or humans were observed with the change in the level of dietary protein. The high casein diet fed to rats reduced the excretion of creatinine and serum uric acid, while the high meat intake increased the excretion of creatinine and of uric acid in the humans. It was also found that there was a high negative correlation between serum uric acid and urinary uric acid of rats, and between serum amino nitrogen and urinary amino nitrogen of human subjects. This study indicates that the body rapidly adjusts to an altered level of protein intake by changing the level of nitrogenous components in blood and urine.

Lamb pregastric (PGE) and gastric extracts (GE) have been evaluated for their role in Italian cheese flavor production. Both have been shown to produce increases in free fatty acids and in non-protein-nitrogen during incubation with milk fat and casein substrates as well as in cheese substrates. Gastric lipase and cathepsins are considered to be the additional active agents in GE. Parmesan cheese manufactured with PGE and GE added to the curd was superior in flavor when both were employed, and either extract alone was better than the uninnoculated control. An assay for GE proteolytic activity has been proposed which involves the use of pH9.0 casein substrate thereby eliminating the effects of pepsin and rennin proteases. Differences among GE and rennin or pepsin preparations have also been established using starch gel electrophoresis and casein-agar gel diffusion techniques.

The incorporation of 3- C-,B-hydroxy-, B-methylglutaric acid (HMG) vii into carotenoids of excised etiolated maize shoots, crude cell free extracts and soluble extracts (20, 000 x g) of maize was investigated. HMG was effectively incorporated into carotenoids of excised shoots, crude extracts and soluble extracts. The excised shoots, crude extracts and soluble extracts incorporated 2- 14 C-mevalonic acid (MVA) into carotenoids as well. The results indicated the presence of HMG-CoA reductase in the plant as well as an HMG activating enzyme. The soluble extract showed a pH optimum of 7. 0 for incorporation of HMG into carotenoids. Endogenous metabolites such as MVA in the soluble enzyme preparation decreased the amount of 3- 14 C-HMG incorporated into carotenoids. The conversion of HMG to MVA may be a regulatory site in carotenoid biosynthesis in the plant. Telone (a mixture of cis-1, 3-dichloropropene, trans-I, 3-dichloropropene and other halogenated hydrocarbons), 3-chloroallyl alcohol, viii 3-chloropropionic acid, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, 3-chloro-1-propanol and 14 malonic acid significantly reduced the amount of 3- C-HMG incorporated into carotenoids of maize. Activity of lipoxidase from tomato extracts was significantly inhibited by Telone, cis-1, 3-dichloropropene, trans-1, 3-dichloropropene, 3-chloroallyl alcohol, 3-chloropropionic acid, 3-hydroxy-propionic acid, 3-chloro-1-propanol and malonic acid.

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) correlated to total homocysteine (tHcy) levels among Hispanics (25.6%) and non-Hispanic whites (74.4%) with type-2 diabetes. The charts of 39 subjects with type-2 diabetes were selected from one physician’s caseload for a convenience sample. This endocrinologist has been supplementing his patients with 1-3 mg of folic acid daily if their tHcy levels were > 13 pmol/L. We found a significant difference (p < .001) between tHcy levels at baseline, follow-up I and follow-up II with a mean total reduction of 4 pmol/L. The results indicated that tHcy levels could be reduced by 1-2 mg folic acid daily in 2-8 months in subjects with type-2 diabetes. The recommendation generated from this study’s findings is that a folic acid supplement be consumed as part of a long-term management regimen for type-2 diabetics.

This study was undertaken to determine Rastafarian infancy and childhood feeding practices and to analyze the effects of this vegan diet on the nutrient intake and growth of Rastafarian infants and children. The Rastafarian cult originated in Jamaica, West Indies. Rastafarians have special religious, dietary and social guidelines, including many dietary prohibitions. The daily spiritual ritual includes smoking marijuana. Forty children of immigrant Rastafarians living in Miami were assessed to analyze their vegan diet and its effects on their nutrient intake and growth. All children had been breast-fed for an average of two years in conjunction with the early addition of foods. Bush teas were preferred to soy formulas and were used medicinally. Excluding the three infants, the children were grouped according to age; one to three years old, n=ll; four to six years old, n=16; over six years, n=10. Among all groups, calories, calcium and B12 intakes were below 100% of the RDA. In the two older groups, B12 intake was less than 67% of the RDA and in the oldest group, calories were also less than 67% of the RDA. Z-scores were used to compare anthropometric data obtained at various ages. Although weights, lengths and weight of length were above the means, there was a negative correlation of weight for length with age. Growth percentile categories for weight, weight for length, and triceps skinfold decreased with age. The B12 intake and weight of one to three year olds were correlated (p=.01). Among four to six year olds, there was a correlation between B12 intake and both length (p=.01) and weight for length (p=.04). Among the oldest group, there are a negative correlation between B12 and weight (p=.O4); calories and length (p=.O3); and calories and weight for length (p=.006). Sub-optimal nutrient intakes of B12, calories and calcium in this population are similar to findings in other vegan groups.

The purpose of this study was to determine if a short-term nutrition education program could significantly improve the nutrition knowledge (as assessed by the .Nutrition Achievement Test (NAT)) and body composition (as measured by the weight-for-length index (WLI) and body mass index (BMI)) of female cheerleaders aged 7 to 13. Nutrition lessons were presented to the experimental group during a two month treatment period. Using a pre-test, post-test, control group design, and performing two-sample t tests on mean differences (post-test minus pre-test) in BMI, WLI and mean percent correct on the Nutrition Achievement Test (NAT), it was discovered that the experimental group (teams A,C; N=34) did not differ significantly from the control group (teams B,D; N=31) with respect to mean differences (post-test minus pre-test) in WLI (p=0.10), and BMI (p=0.49). However, the experimental and control groups differed significantly with respect to mean difference percent correct NAT scores (p=0.042), with the experimental group improving more than the control. Closer examination revealed the older experimental team (C) improved significantly (p=0.0017), while the younger experimental team (A), did not (p=0.64). Neither of the control groups improved significantly. ANCOVA was performed on the post-test percent correct on the NAT, using the pretest as a covariate, for the 15 experimental and 14 control subjects taking NAT Test 4. ANCOVA revealed that the experimental group’s adjusted post-test mean score was higher than the control's (p<.01). These results suggest that nutrition education may result in significant improvements in the nutrition knowledge of adolescent females enrolled in an extra-curricular cheerleading league and/or program.

The objective of this study was to determine if offering larger portions of fluids with medications, i.e., at “med pass,” would increase fluid intake in nursing home residents. In a Latin square design, thirty-four residents of a 180-bed nursing facility received 4 and 8 oz servings of water and juice during distribution of medication. Fluid remains were weighed after 90 minutes. Larger portions and juice offerings were both found to increase fluid intake. Average fluid intakes increased from 80 to 140 mL when 8 oz servings of fluid were served instead of 4 oz servings (ps <.01). When juice was served in place of water, average intakes increased from 90 to 130 mL (ps <.01). Evaluation of the interaction between portion size and fluid type revealed that juice potentiated the increased intakes seen with 8 oz portions of fluid (ps <.01). Providing larger servings of fluid and offering juice with medications can be effective strategies to increase fluid intake in nursing home residents.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and impaired or threatened nutritional status seem to be closely related. It is now known that AIDS results in many nutritional disorders including anorexia, vomiting, protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), nutrient deficiencies, and gastrointestinal, renal, and hepatic dysfunction (1-7, 8). Reversibly, nutritional status may also have an impact on the development of AIDS among HIV-infected people. Not all individuals who have tested antibody positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have developed AIDS or have even shown clinical symptoms (9, 10). A poor nutritional status, especially PEM, has a depressing effect on immunity which may predispose an individual to infection (11). It has been proposed that a qualitatively or quantitatively deficient diet could be among the factors precipitating the transition from HIV-positive to AIDS (12, 13). The interrelationship between nutrition and AIDS reveals the importance of having a multidisciplinary health care team approach to treatment (11), including having a registered dietitian on the medical team. With regards to alimentation, the main responsibility of a dietitian is to inform the public concerning sound nutritional practices and encourage healthy food habits (14). In individuals with inadequate nutritional behavior, a positive, long-term change has been seen when nutrition education tailored to specific physiological and emotional needs was provided along with psychological support through counseling (14). This has been the case for patients with various illnesses and may also be true in AIDS patients as well. Nutritional education specifically tailored for each AIDS patient could benefit the patient by improving the quality of life and preventing or minimizing weight loss and malnutrition (15-17). Also, it may influence the progression of the disease by delaying the onset of the most severe symptoms and increasing the efficacy of medical treatment (18, 19). Several studies have contributed to a dietary rationale for nutritional intervention in HIV-infected and AIDS patients (2, 4, 20-25). Prospective, randomized clinical research in AIDS patients have not yet been published to support this dietary rationale; however, isolated case reports show its suitability (3). Furthermore, only nutrition intervention as applied by a medical team in an institution or hospital has been evaluated. Research is lacking concerning the evaluation of nutritional education of either non-institutionalized or hospitalized groups of persons who are managing their own food choice and intake. This study compares nutrition knowledge and food intakes in HIV-infected individuals prior to and following nutrition education. It was anticipated that education would increase the knowledge of nutritional care of AIDS patients and lead to better implementation of nutrition education programs.