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The purpose of this research was to examine food security for people with prediabetes participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), focusing on their food choice decisions and coping strategies over a 30-day benefit cycle that potentially increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes. A cross-sectional, quantitative design based on food choice process model constructs was used. SNAP participants (n = 36) with prediabetes, aged 21â??70 years, were recruited as outpatients from Bronx Lebanon Hospital and completed self-reported questionnaires on demographics and health, food security, and food frequency. Descriptive statistics, Pearson chi square tests, and regression analysis were performed using SPSS. Also, independent t test, and Levene's test were used for ad hoc analysis to assess variation of food choice decisions over 30 days. Of the sample, 5% had low and 95% very low food secure status. Food security status did not predict coping strategies (p = .724); however, food security status and type of coping strategy had a moderate relationship (p < 0.01; r =.60). Food choices of 11 food categories changed over a 30-day cycle with greatest variation for Week 1, compared to Weeks 2â??4 (p < .005). Use of coping strategies to minimize hunger was limited. Very low food security associated with certain coping strategies disrupted eating patterns. Disrupted eating patterns affect food variation over time, increasing the intake of non-nutrient-dense foods and the risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The implications for positive social change include the potential to change SNAP's benefit allotments, make nutrition education mandatory, and create a nutrition package, thereby lowering food insecurity and the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

The aim of this study was to examine which sources people turn to in order to find information about food and diets. Another aim was to find out how reliable people thought the various sources to diet – related information was. The method used to collect data was a web-based survey which was published on the writers private Facebook page. The total number of respondents was 48, between the ages of 18 and 55. The results showed that the most reliable source of information, was not the most likely first hand choice that the respondents would turn to, in order to find information. The conclusion of this study was that it is necessary to continue research among the public regarding their views on credibility of their sources of information, not least on the internet / Studiens syfte var att undersöka vilken typ av källa deltagarna vänder sig till för att få information om kost och livsmedel. Syftet var också att ta reda på hur trovärdiga de ansåg att olika källor till kostrelaterad information var. Undersökningen gjordes i form av en web-baserad enkät som publicerades via uppsatsskrivarens privata sida på Facebook. Det totala antalet deltagare var 48 stycken, 34 kvinnor och 14 män, dock så slutförde inte alla deltagare hela enkäten. Resultatet från studien visade att den källa som respondenterna ansåg vara den mest trovärdiga, inte självklart var den källa man vände sig till i första hand för att få information om kost och livsmedel. Störst andel av deltagarna vände sig i första hand till vänner och familj i sökandet efter information. På frågan vilken källa som ansågs vara mest pålitlig så hamnade Statens Livsmedelsverk högst upp bland deltagarna men endast 2 av 29 svarande vände sig till denna källa i första hand. Vart deltagarna vände sig i sista hand svarade flest dagstidningar vilket också var den källan som ansågs vara minst trovärdig bland de olika alternativen i enkäten. Slutsatsen är att det krävs mer forskning för att undersöka hur människor resonerar och förhåller sig till källkritik och kunskapssökande. Inte minst kring de källor och information som finns online.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-13T14:10:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Renata Pozelli Sabio.pdf: 3102063 bytes, checksum: 7714a43e5d5d98ba68f21909c1123ae6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-28 / This study aimed to analyze the context of the attribute of origin in the food choice process and its adoption intention. The research was conducted in three main stages, with the first two being qualitative and the third quantitative. In the first stage, (in-depth interviews) an application of the conceptual model of the food choice process was made, and also it was explored the context of origin for different food categories. Then, a research about how consumers analyze and process the coffee origin was carried out (interviews and focus groups). In this stage there was conducted a comparison between a traditional coffee growing region with a non-traditional region (Minas Gerais and Bahia). Finally, in the last step it was performed an online experiment, in which it was analyzed the intention of adoption for different origins of coffee (Brazil and Colombia). The results showed that when the source is not mentioned, few consumers make a direct association of this attribute as being part of the food choice process. However, it was found that the origin is present and influences the food choices in many ways, even indirectly. With regard to coffee, consumers considered the origin as a source of information about the product and also a differential of quality, mainly flavor. In the comparison between the regions of the Cerrado Mineiro and Bahia, there was a preference for the region that is traditional in growing coffee (Cerrado). The comparison between countries (Brazil and Colombia) showed that the intention of adoption for Brazil's origin of coffee was higher than for coffee originating in Colombia. Still, the relative advantage was the variable that had the highest ratio with the adoption intention, followed by the compatibility. Uncertainty was positively and significantly associated with the intention of adoption for coffee originating in Brazil, but not for the coffee originating in Colombia. / Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o contexto do atributo origem na escolha alimentar e sua intenção de adoção. A realização da pesquisa contou com três principais etapas, sendo as duas primeiras qualitativas e a terceira quantitativa. Na primeira etapa (entrevistas em profundidade) foi feita uma aplicação do modelo conceitual do processo de escolha alimentar, além de explorado o contexto da origem para diversas categorias de alimentos. Em seguida, realizou-se uma pesquisa sobre o modo como os consumidores analisam e processam a origem do café (entrevistas e grupos focais), comparando-se uma região tradicional na produção de café, a uma região não tradicional (Minas Gerais e Bahia). Por fim, a última etapa contou com experimento online, no qual foi analisada a intenção de adoção para diferentes origens de café (Brasil e Colômbia). Os resultados obtidos mostraram que quando a origem não é mencionada, os consumidores não costumam fazer uma associação desta como parte do processo de escolha alimentar. Porém, encontrou-se que a origem está presente e influencia nas escolhas alimentares de diversas maneiras, mesmo que indiretamente. Com relação ao café, os consumidores consideraram a origem como sendo fonte de informações sobre o produto e também um diferencial de qualidade, principalmente de sabor. Quando comparadas as regiões do Cerrado Mineiro e da Bahia, houve preferência pela tradicionalmente produtora do grão (Cerrado). A comparação entre países (Brasil e Colômbia) mostrou que a intenção de adoção para o café com origem do Brasil foi superior à do café com origem da Colômbia. Ainda, a vantagem relativa foi a variável que apresentou a maior relação com a intenção de adoção, seguida pela compatibilidade. A incerteza apresentou associação positiva e significativa com a intenção de adoção para o café com origem do Brasil, mas não para o café com origem da Colômbia.

<p>Manatees (Mammalia: Sirenia), along with the closely related dugongs, are the only herbivorous marine mammals. Manatees consume a wide variety of vascular plants and algae in both marine and freshwater habitats. However, little is known about what characteristics influence diet and food selectivity, especially in freshwater habitats, which represent a large portion of the available habitat for the endangered Antillean manatee, <italic>Trichechus manatus manatus</italic>, in Central and South America. Understanding foraging ecology is an important element of effective conservation strategies.</p><p>This dissertation investigated various aspects of the foraging ecology of the Antillean manatee in a freshwater habitat, specifically: 1) how plant availability (i.e. species richness, diversity, and abundance) varied seasonally with changes in water depths, 2) manatee food selectivity from a representative set of plant species from that freshwater habitat, and 3) the relationship of plant nutritive compounds and availability with manatee food selectivity. In addition, this dissertation describes the multiple uses of sonar technology for studying manatees and habitat characteristics in freshwater.</p><p>Plant availability to manatees was evaluated by conducting monthly plant surveys from July 2010-July 2011 in four contact lakes in the wetlands of Tabasco, Mexico. Manatee food selectivity was examined by conducting food selection experiments on a wild adult manatee during the low water season with 54 plant species representing 25+ genera. The nutritive components (i.e. crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose (HC), and ash) and plant availability values for selected and non-selected plants species were evaluated to determine their relationship with manatee food selectivity. The applicability of using side-scan sonar for manatee research was tested in various freshwater and estuarine habitats in Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and the wetlands of Tabasco, Mexico between 2006-2011.</p><p>The major findings of this dissertation are as follows. Plant species richness, diversity, and abundance were greatest during the rising water season (July-August) and lowest during the low water season (March-June). No plants were available in April-June, which represented the majority of the low water season. The wild manatee</p><p>selected 27 (11+ genera) of the 54 species examined during the feeding experiments. Of the plant characteristics tested (i.e. nutritive components and plant availability), only digestible fiber (HC) was significantly related to manatee food selection, with manatees</p><p>selecting plants with higher HC content. Four unique applications were identified for the use of side-scan sonar to facilitate manatee research in freshwater habitats: 1) confirmation of visual sightings and determination of group size, 2) determination of mother-calf pairs, 3) habitat characterization, and 4) assisting manatee captures.</p><p>Results from this study reveal that manatees living in the freshwater wetlands of Tabasco, Mexico have to cope with a highly seasonal availability of plants and that while manatees consume plants from a wide variety of genera, they are highly selective. Unlike other herbivorous mammals, manatee food selectivity was not influenced by CP, NDF, or ADF, but rather by digestible fiber. A unique suit of anatomical and physiological characteristics suggests that manatees may be fiber digestion specialists. Both seasonal plant availability and the manatee's large dietary breadth must be considered when developing 1) conservation strategies for wild manatees in freshwater habitats and 2) protocols for captive rehabilitation of orphaned and stranded manatees that will be reintroduced into the wild.</p> / Dissertation

Food choice has intrigued generations of scholars seeking insight into the rituals that characterize the cultural and sub-cultural values of various nations and eras. Among the more recent cultural phenomena to influence theories about the body is food choice. Perhaps there is no argumentative issue more pervasive than that of food choice, because everyone must eat. The morsels that people consume are chosen as often as not for their symbolic value. A review of the literature of dietary discourse and representation reveals a gap where studies of vegetarian and vegan identity, mass media, and mass markets are concerned. This dissertation utilizes theories of representation, cultural studies, and discourse analysis to uncover culturally specific attitudes in the marketing of food with regard to vegetable-based diets, the foods that they consist of, and the people who eat them.

In this thesis I explore issues of food security and food-identity relationships among international students at the University of Guelph and the University of Windsor. I argue students who attempt to maintain traditional diets are more likely to experience food insecurity than students who explore diverse foods because they are more likely to be negatively affected by food availability, food access and structural barriers. What students eat can also have implications for identity maintenance and identity creation. Thus in this thesis I also explore the relationship between food and identity by considering how identity and food-security can be closely related to preferred food availability and accessibility. I argue that students consume certain foods as a means to maintain and create identities, and as such I suggest that familiar food eaters may experience a sense of losing their identities as their food insecurity increases.

The objectives of this research project were to (1) explore perceptions and experiences related to body dissatisfaction, aging, and the use of body work practices among baby boomer and older women; and (2) explore healthy eating attitudes and barriers, food choice influences, dieting behaviours, and food product usage/attitudes among these women. Fourteen focus groups with baby boomer and older women were conducted in urban and rural areas of Manitoba (n=137). Participants also completed a questionnaire and height and weight measurements. Body image, aging and food were intimately connected in women’s lives. Feelings about the body were closely connected to the experience of aging and perceptions of the body influenced food choices and attitudes. This thesis adds value to the existing literature by exploring the connections between aging, food, and the body, from the perspectives of baby boomer and older women.

The aim of this thesis was to gain a deeper understanding of ready meal consumers and their demands regarding ready meal products in different situations. Data were gathered with one extensive postal survey and five focus group discussions. The aim of the survey was to investigate the beliefs held about ready meal consumers, identify typical ready meal situations, assess the aims of eating ready meals in these meal situations and, finally, to identify demands regarding ready meals in the purchase situation. The results of the survey showed that the image of the frequent ready meal consumer was a person alone and stressed. The ready meal-consuming respondents confirmed this image when they were in actual situations eating ready meals but not in general. Four common ready meal-eating situations were identified. Ready meals were eaten most frequently as lunch at work and dinner at home. The social context in these situations was found to differ and to affect the activities performed. Ready meals for lunch at work were commonly eaten with colleagues and then discussing was a normal activity. For dinner at home ready meals were usually eaten alone watching TV. The reasons why ready meals were chosen as meal solutions differed. Ready meals suitable for lunch at work should be time-saving and for dinner at home the main demand was that the products should be convenient in order to avoid cooking. Purchaser demands regarding ready meals were found to be influenced by the gender of the purchaser and the intended end-consumer. Female ready meal purchasers were more demanding buyers than males, especially concerning health aspects. The aim of the focus groups was to explore consumers' reasons regarding the choice of ready meals for dinner and to find out how ready meals suit their needs. Ready meals were not regarded as being very appropriate for dinner at home. The social setting of the dinner was one of the most important aspects affecting the choice of what to eat. For ready meals to be suitable for dinner use they should be dishes out of the ordinary with more taste. This thesis has demonstrated that the context of meals affects the entire ready meal choice process and that there is a need to broaden the research perspective beyond the meal. The entire food provisioning process needs to be taken into account. / Målet med denna avhandling var att generera en större kunskap om färdigmatskonsumenter och deras krav på färdigmat i olika situationer. För att kunna göra detta genomfördes en omfattande postal enkät och fem fokusgrupper. Syftet med enkäten var att kartlägga existerande attityder till färdigmatskonsumenter, identifiera typiska färdigmatssituationer, undersöka skälen till att äta färdigmat i dessa situationer samt slutligen identifiera vad som är avgörande för inköpet av färdigmat. Resultaten av enkäten visade att bilden av en färdigmatskonsument var en ensam och tidspressad person. Bilden bekräftades av de färdigmatsätande respondenterna men stämde enbart i färdigmatssituationen som sådan. Fyra typiska färdigmatssituationer identifierades. Mest frekvent åt respondenterna färdigmat till lunch på arbetet och till middag hemma. Den sociala kontexten skilde sig åt i dessa situationer och visade sig påverka vilka aktiviteter som pågick under måltiden. Färdigmat till lunch på arbetet åts vanligen med kollegor och då diskuterade man oftast. Vid middagen hemma åts färdigmat oftast ensam framför TV:n. Motiven till att välja färdigmat skilde sig åt i olika situationer. För en lunch på arbetet var det viktigast att färdigmaten var tidsbesparande men för en middag hemma var det främst bekvämlighetsaspekten, i form av att slippa laga mat, som avgjorde. I inköpssituationen visade det sig att olika aspekter var olika viktiga för inköpet av färdigmat beroende på inköparens kön och om inköparen var den som skulle äta färdigmaten. Generellt var kvinnliga färdigmatsinköpare mer krävande, i synnerhet gällande hälsorelaterade aspekter. När färdigmat köptes åt någon annan så var det signifikant viktigare att det var lätt att öppna förpackningen samt att maten skulle vara lik den mat som den personen brukade äta. Målet med fokusgrupperna var att utforska konsumenternas resonemang kring valet av färdigmat till middag och komma fram till hur färdigmat passade deras behov. Slutsatsen var att utformningen av en middag hemma var mycket beroende av den sociala kontexten, dvs. vem som skulle äta. Framför allt närvaron av barn var viktig för de val som gjordes inför middagen. Färdigmat ansågs inte passa särskilt bra till en social middag hemma. Ett färdigmatssortiment anpassat för middag föreslogs inbegripa mer speciella rätter med mer smak. Den här avhandlingen har visat på att måltidskontexten påverkar hela valprocessen av färdigmat och att det därför finns ett behov av att bredda forskningsperspektivet bortom maten i sig och även bortom måltiden. Hela processen, från planeringsstadiet till omhändertagandet av disk och avfall, måste tas i beaktande.

Submitted by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-08-17T19:31:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseSLS.pdf: 1861509 bytes, checksum: 67699187e9b93f72a91ff3376c3d9ed9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-08-17T19:31:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseSLS.pdf: 1861509 bytes, checksum: 67699187e9b93f72a91ff3376c3d9ed9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-08-17T19:31:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseSLS.pdf: 1861509 bytes, checksum: 67699187e9b93f72a91ff3376c3d9ed9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-17T19:31:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseSLS.pdf: 1861509 bytes, checksum: 67699187e9b93f72a91ff3376c3d9ed9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-17 / Não recebi financiamento / Questions about the possible influence of marketing on children's food choices have been topics of debate in recent years. The use of characters in advertisements and packaging is one strategy commonly used to develop positive attitudes toward brands or products. Research that used the stimulus equivalence paradigm has shown that such influence can occur through the transfer of functions. The purpose of this thesis was to verify under what conditions an abstract symbol can acquire symbolic functions of characters and influence children's food choices. Therefore, three studies were carried out. In Study 1 of this thesis, the children formed two classes of stimuli: one containing a liked character and the other a dislike character. The other members were geometric figures and abstract symbols. Three choice and preference tests were conducted where the children had to choose from two samples of the same snack, differing only by the label on the package: 1) symbol equivalent to the liked and disliked characters; 2) symbol equivalent to the disliked character and a new symbol; and 3) the symbol equivalent to the liked character and the logo a known brand. Most children chose first, and reported to like more, the snack labeled with the symbol equivalent to the liked character. They also chose, and reported to like more, the snack labeled with a new stimulus over the symbol equivalent to the disliked character. The Test 3 was inconclusive. Study 2 was similar, however, rather than the known brand, this was replaced by another new symbol in the Test 3. The equivalence tests and the food choice and preference tests were repeated after two weeks. The results of Test 1 were replicated, but the tests 2 and 3 were inconclusive. However, it was possible to verify both the maintenance of the equivalence relations and the transfer of function. In Study 3 the children formed three classes of equivalence, one of which contained a neutral figure. The preference tests were similar; however, the “neutral” symbols replaced the new symbols. The function transfer results were even more robust because all children chose and liked more the food with the symbol equivalent to the favorite character on the label. It has also been noted that children tend to choose a food with a symbol equivalent to the character, even if not attractive, when the other option is a label with a "neutral" symbol. The analysis of the profile and consumption habits of private school participants (Studies 1 and 2) and public (Study 3) pointed to some significant differences relative to food consumption, participation in purchases, hours of televisions, etc, which may have influenced in the obtained results. It is considered that the results achieved have empirically demonstrated how children can be persuaded by using attractive figures. They also brought contributions that strengthen the stimulus equivalence paradigm as a behavioral model the semantic relations and an useful methodology for the study of the attitudes and preferences. / Questões referentes à possível influência do marketing nas escolhas alimentares de crianças têm sido temas de debate nos últimos anos. A adoção de personagens em propagandas e embalagens faz parte das estratégias normalmente utilizadas para desenvolver atitudes positivas em relação a marcas ou produtos. Pesquisas que se baseiam no paradigma de equivalência de estímulos têm demonstrado que tal influência pode ocorrer também por meio da transferência de funções. O objetivo desta tese foi verificar em quais condições um símbolo abstrato pode adquirir funções simbólicas de personagens e influenciar escolhas alimentares de crianças. Para tanto, foram realizados três estudos. No Estudo 1 as crianças formaram duas classes de estímulos: uma contendo um personagem de que gostavam e a outra um personagem de que não gostavam. Os demais membros eram figuras geométricas e símbolos abstratos. Foram conduzidos três testes de escolha e preferência com dois alimentos idênticos oferecidos em embalagens transparentes tendo os seguintes rótulos: o símbolo equivalente ao personagem favorito e o outro ao personagem não atrativo; 2) o símbolo equivalente ao personagem não atrativo e um símbolo novo; e 3) o símbolo equivalente ao personagem favorito e o outro uma marca conhecida. Os resultados apontaram que a maioria das crianças escolheu e relatou gostar mais do alimento com um símbolo da mesma classe do personagem de que gostavam. Além disto, o alimento com o símbolo novo no rótulo também foi mais escolhido do que o que continha o símbolo da classe do personagem de que não gostavam. O terceiro teste foi inconclusivo. O Estudo 2 foi semelhante, no entanto, ao invés da marca conhecida no Teste 3, esta foi substituída por um outro símbolo novo. Os testes de equivalência e de escolha e preferência alimentar foram repetidos após duas semanas. Houve replicação dos resultados referentes ao Teste 1, no entanto, os Testes 2 e 3 foram inconclusivos. Foi possível constatar tanto a manutenção das relações de equivalência quanto da transferência de função. No Estudo 3 as crianças formaram três classes de equivalência, sendo que uma delas continha uma figura neutra. Os testes foram semelhantes aos anteriores, no entanto, os símbolos novos foram substituídos pelo símbolo “neutro”. Todas as crianças escolheram e demonstraram preferência pelo alimento com o símbolo equivalente ao personagem favorito no rótulo. Também se pôde constatar que as crianças tendem a escolher um alimento com um símbolo equivalente ao personagem, mesmo que não atrativo, quando a outra opção é um rótulo com um símbolo “neutro”. A análise do perfil e hábitos de consumo dos participantes da escola particular (Estudos 1 e 2) e pública (Estudo 3) apontaram algumas diferenças significativas com relação ao consumo de alimentos, participação em compras, horas de televisão, etc., que podem ter interferido nos resultados obtidos. Considera-se que os resultados alcançados demonstraram empiricamente como as crianças podem ser persuadidas com o uso de figuras atrativas. Também trouxeram contribuições que reforçam a equivalência de estímulos como um modelo de relações semânticas, além de se mostrar uma metodologia útil para o estudo das atitudes e preferências.