It has been hypothesized that a reduction in the awareness of food skills in the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) community may be contributing to the increasing rates of overweight and obesity. To date, a valid and reliable tool for examining the level of food skills among a population has not been created. This study sought to create such a tool through achieving face validity from key stakeholders, content validity from an expert panel and construct validity through factor analysis. Upon ethics approval, the validated tool was piloted among a selected number of residents in the KFL&A County through a telephone survey company, CCI Research. Results were examined and a Cronbach’s alpha was used to measure the internal consistency of the tool. This tool will contribute to subsequent studies that aim to identify gaps in food skills among targeted populations. Future studies may also use the data to guide individualized food skills education programs for residents. / Thesis (Master, Nursing) -- Queen's University, 2012-07-15 11:39:03.227

The purpose of this qualitative, grounded theory study was to explore the concept of food literacy as it relates to well-being from the perspective of young Canadian adults who recently transitioned to independent living. Seventeen individual, interviews were conducted with Canadian university students. Results suggest that while young adults value “healthy” eating, they are at risk for leaving their family homes lacking necessary food literacy required to make healthy food choices, sustain healthy food relationships and be well. Results suggest that significant challenges exist with regard to acquiring/utilizing food literacy, which appear to influence food choices, health and well-being. Findings indicate that young adults could benefit from expanding their views on food to encompass cultural and environmental knowledge. This thesis adds value to the existing literature by exploring the components of food literacy and connections to well-being.

High ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption is associated with weight gain, obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, all-cause mortality, and type 2 diabetes. "Food agency" refers to an individual's food preparation attitudes and capabilities within a given social and physical food environment. Although there is an association between the ability to prepare certain dishes and higher cooking frequency with lower UPF intake, it is still unclear if cooking and food agency influences UPF consumption due to the lack of research in this area. To date, studies of food agency have not included detailed dietary analyses. This cross-sectional study included 40 adults (73% female, aged 39±15 years, body mass index [BMI] 25.8±4.9 kg/m2) and aimed to determine the relationship between food agency and UPF intake. Food agency scores were calculated using the validated Cooking and Food Provisioning Action Scale (CAFPAS). Cooking behaviors and frequency were also collected. Dietary intake was assessed using three 24-hour dietary recalls with each item categorized by degree of processing using the NOVA classification system. Analyses included one-way ANOVAs between CAFPAS score quartiles [Q] and Pearson correlations between CAFPAS, cooking behaviors, and dietary intake. UPF intake was calculated in percent total calories and percent total grams to account for artificial sweeteners and other low calorie products that may be classified as UPFs. Low food agency was associated with a 14% higher UPF intake (% total calories) compared to high food agency (P=0.03). There were no differences between CAFPAS quartiles and UPF intake in % total grams. When age was divided into three categories, UPF intake was significantly lower in older adults (60+ years) compared to adults aged 19-39 years and 40-59 years by 26.4% and 29.1% respectively (P=0.02). When analyzed using bivariate analysis, lunch (r=-0.482, P=0.002) and dinner (r=-0.385, P=0.014) cooking frequency, frequency of cooking a meal from scratch or fresh ingredients (r=-0.320, P=0.044), and CAFPAS self-efficacy (r= -0.369; P= .019) were negatively correlated with UPF intake (% total kcal). These findings provide support for the possibility of reducing UPF intake through cooking interventions aimed at improving components of food agency such as problem solving, skills to create a meal from what is available, and cooking confidence. Future studies should include a larger, heterogeneous population to provide more insight into dietary differences between levels of food agency and expand the diversity of research in this area. / Master of Science / High ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption is linked to weight gain, obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, all-cause mortality, and type 2 diabetes. "Food agency" refers to an individual's food preparation attitudes and capabilities within a given social and physical food environment. Although there is a link between the ability to prepare certain dishes and higher cooking frequency with lower UPF intake, it is still unclear if cooking and food agency influences UPF consumption due to the lack of research in this area. To date, studies of food agency have not included detailed dietary analyses. This study aimed to determine the relationship between food agency and UPF intake. Food agency scores were calculated using the validated Cooking and Food Provisioning Action Scale (CAFPAS). Cooking frequency and behaviors were also collected. Dietary intake was assessed using three 24-hour dietary recalls with each item categorized by degree of processing using the NOVA classification system. Participants with low food agency had higher UPF intake in percent total calories compared to those with high food agency. There were no differences between food agency and UPF intake in percent total grams. Adults aged 60 and over consumed less UPF compared to adults below the age of 60. Participants with higher food agency were more likely to make a meal from scratch or fresh ingredients. As frequency of cooking a meal from scratch or fresh ingredients, cooking dinner or lunch increased, and CAFPAS self-efficacy scores increased percent total calories from UPFs decreased. These findings provide support for the possibility of reducing UPF intake through cooking interventions aimed at improving components of food agency such as problem solving, skills to create a meal from what is available, and cooking confidence. Future studies should include a larger, heterogeneous population to provide more insight into dietary differences between levels of food agency and expand the diversity of research in this area.

Contexte : Au Canada, de nombreuses personnes issues de la migration sont confrontés à l’insécurité alimentaire (IA), une problématique préjudiciable à la qualité de l’alimentation. Un nombre croissant d’organismes de dépannage alimentaire incluent des programmes visant l’amélioration des compétences alimentaires. Toutefois, la relation entre l’IA et la qualité de l’alimentation des migrants demandeurs d’aide alimentaire et la potentielle modification d’effet par les compétences alimentaires ont été peu étudiés. Objectif : Examiner l’association entre le niveau d’IA, les compétences alimentaires et la qualité de l’alimentation chez les demandeurs d’aide alimentaire issus de la migration. Méthode : Les données sont extraites d’un sous-échantillon de la cohorte PARCOURS, constitué de nouveaux utilisateurs de banques alimentaires migrants au Québec (n=224) au recrutement. Les variables d’intérêt ont été mesurées à l’aide de questions adaptées de l’Enquête sur la santé de collectivités canadiennes. Des analyses linéaires multiples basées sur des familles de modèles ont été menées pour chaque indicateur de qualité de l’alimentation soient la consommation de fruits et légumes (FL) et la variété. Résultats : Au sein de l’échantillon, le score de variété moyen était de 16/20 et la consommation médiane de FL était de 3 fois par jour. Une fois ajusté, le niveau d’IA n’était associé ni à la consommation de FL ni à la variété de l’alimentation. Aucune modification d’effet par les compétences alimentaires a été observée. Conclusion : Chez les migrants demandeurs d’aide alimentaire, leur niveau d’IA n'est pas associé à la qualité de leur alimentation peu importe leurs compétences alimentaires. / Background: Many people with a migrant background in Canada face food insecurity (FI), an issue with detrimental outcomes on diet quality. A growing number of food assistance services, which remain the principal intervention supporting Canadians living in food-insecure households, now include programs aiming to improve food skills. However, little is known about the relationship between FI and diet quality of migrants using food assistance services as well as the potential effect modification of food skills on this association. Objective: To examine the association between FI levels, food skills, and diet quality among migrant food assistance beneficiaries. Method: Data were drawn from a subsample of the PATHWAY study at baseline, including new food bank users with an immigrant background in Quebec (n=224). Variables of interest were measured using questions adapted from the Canadian Community Health Survey. Multiple linear regressions were performed for each food quality indicator, namely fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and diet variety, based on predefined families of models. Results: Among participants, the median frequency of FV consumption was three times per day, and the mean score for variety reached 16/20. When adjusted, FI levels were not associated with either FV consumption or diet variety among food assistance users with a migrant background. No effect modification by food skills was observed. Conclusion: Among migrants seeking food aid, their FI level is not associated with the quality of their diet, regardless of their dietary skills.

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