The rise of unhealthy beverage consumption, such as soft drinks, in children and youth for the last 25 years has increased the risk of low bone mass density by replacing milk (a major source of calcium intake), compromised dental health, and possibly contributed obesity. A school-based nutrition education intervention was developed to promote a change in this behavior. This study examined the effectiveness of this nutrition education program, called FUEL (Fluids Used Effectively in Living), in promoting healthy beverage consumption among high school students. The FUEL nutrition education manual consisted of six classroom sessions; it was delivered in four classes of grade nine students using different approaches, either multiple or single strategies. The nutrition intervention used multiple teaching methods which included six lessons delivered as visual, group interaction, tactile, individual, and auditory teaching styles. The multiple strategies approach was delivered through peer educators (led by a dietitian) in one class and dietitian-only in another class. In the single strategy approach, also called self-taught, two classes received only the handouts in the FUEL manual. This latter approach was considered the control to the nutrition intervention. The two classes that received either peer education or self-taught approach were in two high schools in Saskatoon. The two classes with either dietitian-taught or self-taught approaches were in a high school in Prince Albert. The beverage intake, knowledge, and attitude of students were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire before the intervention, a week after the intervention, and three months after the intervention. In Saskatoon only, a one year follow-up beverage intake assessment was performed. None of the schools in the FUEL study provided healthy beverage choices for the students. Generally, students in our study consumed an adequate amount of milk, but they drank sugary beverages daily. There was a tendency to replace milk and 100% fruit juices with sugary drinks. After the intervention, students in multiple teaching strategies decreased their sugary beverage intake significantly. The findings indicated that a school-based nutrition education with multiple teaching strategies may lead to positive knowledge, attitude and behavioural change which will have beneficial effect on long-term health.

Syftet med studien är att utifrån en kvalitativ metod, med semistrukturerade intervjuer av gymnasielärare, undersöka hur kostundervisning bedrivs i kursen idrott och hälsa 1. I kursplanens centrala innehåll kan det utläsas att eleverna skall få kunskap om kosthållningens betydelse för hälsa och prestation. Det är därför av intresse att se hur lärare transformerar styrdokumenten. Vidare undersöks även hur undervisningen bedöms och betygssätts. Resultatet analyseras sedan mot läroplansteori och Wiliams nyckelstrategi för att tydliggöra informanternas svar. Resultatet visar att informanterna anser att kostundervisning är ett viktigt moment, men att det inte bör plockas ur sitt sammanhang utan skall ses som en del i en helhet. Detta speglar även bedömningen, vilken oftast integreras med andra moment exempelvis träningslära och hälsa. Informanterna menar att detta är ett nytt arbetssätt och således en effekt av de nya styrdokumenten. Samtliga informanter beskriver att feedback är viktigt i utvecklingssyfte. Det kan skönjas två grupper beträffande hur informanterna väljer att arbeta med sitt lektionsinnehåll. En grupp tar ansats ur framtida yrkesliv och den andra ur idrotts- och fritidsaktiviteter. Informanterna omtalar tiden som en begränsande faktor för sin kostundervisning och uppger att det endast är en av många områden i kursen idrott och hälsa 1. / Based on a qualitative method, with semi-structured interviews of upper secondary school teachers, the study intends to investigate how nutrition education is carried out in the course Physical education and health 1. In the curriculum, it can be inferred that the students will gain knowledge about nutrition’s importance for health and performance. It is therefore of interest to see how the teacher transforms the curriculum. Furthermore the study also investigates how teaching is assessed and graded. The results are then analysed to curriculum theory and the five key strategies to clarify informants' responses. The result shows that the informants think that nutrition education play an important roll in the educations, but it should not be picked out of it´s context but rather be seen as part of a totality. This also reflects the assessment, which is often integrated with other curriculum components such as training theory and health education. All informants describe that feedback is essential for development purposes. The informants believe that this is a new approach and an effect of the new curriculum. It can be discerned two groups regarding how informants choose to work with their lesson content. One group will approach it from the students future work and the other from sports and recreational activities. The informants describe that time is a limiting factor in their nutrition education and state that it is only one of many curriculum components in the course Physical education and health 1.

The rise of unhealthy beverage consumption, such as soft drinks, in children and youth for the last 25 years has increased the risk of low bone mass density by replacing milk (a major source of calcium intake), compromised dental health, and possibly contributed obesity. A school-based nutrition education intervention was developed to promote a change in this behavior. This study examined the effectiveness of this nutrition education program, called FUEL (Fluids Used Effectively in Living), in promoting healthy beverage consumption among high school students. The FUEL nutrition education manual consisted of six classroom sessions; it was delivered in four classes of grade nine students using different approaches, either multiple or single strategies. The nutrition intervention used multiple teaching methods which included six lessons delivered as visual, group interaction, tactile, individual, and auditory teaching styles. The multiple strategies approach was delivered through peer educators (led by a dietitian) in one class and dietitian-only in another class. In the single strategy approach, also called self-taught, two classes received only the handouts in the FUEL manual. This latter approach was considered the control to the nutrition intervention. The two classes that received either peer education or self-taught approach were in two high schools in Saskatoon. The two classes with either dietitian-taught or self-taught approaches were in a high school in Prince Albert. The beverage intake, knowledge, and attitude of students were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire before the intervention, a week after the intervention, and three months after the intervention. In Saskatoon only, a one year follow-up beverage intake assessment was performed. None of the schools in the FUEL study provided healthy beverage choices for the students. Generally, students in our study consumed an adequate amount of milk, but they drank sugary beverages daily. There was a tendency to replace milk and 100% fruit juices with sugary drinks. After the intervention, students in multiple teaching strategies decreased their sugary beverage intake significantly. The findings indicated that a school-based nutrition education with multiple teaching strategies may lead to positive knowledge, attitude and behavioural change which will have beneficial effect on long-term health.

Concern that youth do not have enough fruit and vegetable intake lead to two strategies implemented to influence intake in the school environment: the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) and Fighting with Food: Battling Chemical Toxicity with Good Nutrition program (FF), which could influence phytochemical content and knowledge regarding phytochemicals, respectively. Individual food logs (n=468) were assessed upon completion of FF curriculum to determine whether students were able to correctly apply their nutrition knowledge regarding FF. Menus from one district were analyzed pre-HHFKA and post-HHFKA in elementary (n=156), middle (n=171), and high schools (n=171), for change in the frequency of fruit and vegetables, and for changes in select phytochemical and vitamin content. In food logs, students correctly identified fighting foods 71% of the time. School menus showed an increase in dark green, red/orange vegetables, with significant increases in carotenoid and flavonol content. Results suggest students are applying their nutrition knowledge. Also, more variety of fruit and vegetables are being offered, despite lack of a robust increase in all phytochemicals, which can help to lower inflammation and oxidative stress. Both strategies have the potential to work together as a multi-level intervention that can encourage more fruit and vegetable consumption among youth.

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Nutrition knowledge, dietary intake, body composition and perceived sport performance were measured before and after an eight week nutrition intervention. The sample consisted of eleven male high school football athletes aged 14-18 years old. Baseline nutrition knowledge was higher than anticipated but fruit and vegetable intake was low. As a result of the nutrition intervention, vegetable intake improved from 0.94 servings per day to 2.02 servings per day (p=0.02). Of the eleven subjects in the study, eleven conceded to both performing and feeling better as a result of the nutrition intervention. The present study suggests that a nutrition intervention can improve dietary intake and perceived sport performance among adolescent athletes.

<p> Healthy nutrition is essential for everyone but in some periods, including pregnancy, people are more susceptible and demand attention for nutrition. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), approximately 300 extra calories are needed daily to maintain a healthy pregnancy for women. This study analyzes the effects of health education that is provided to pregnant women who are either seeking an office visit for routine or high-risk pregnancy. This study predicted there is no difference in being referred for any type of health education offered to pregnant women between those who received routine pregnancy care and those with high-risk care. It also predicted there is no difference in whether pregnant women are offered nutrition health education/exercise for receiving routine prenatal care and high-risk care. The Statistical Package for Social Services (SPSS) was applied to analyze the 2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) data using Chi Square statistics. The results from this study indicated no significant relationship between pregnant women who are either seeking an office visit for routine or high-risk pregnancy, as it relates to health education. These results reassure the importance of health education.</p>

Food systems and health systems are interdependent. Historically, however, strategies that focused on the development of these systems evolved in isolation from one another. Non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes have an etiology that is strongly linked to food systems. Type 2 diabetes is taking an ever-increasing toll on health, and health systems, globally, and in Canada. In response, health professional organizations propose an advocacy approach to improve food system characteristics linked to the development of diabetes. Opportunities for, and barriers to, such initiatives have not yet been examined in the health geography literature. The primary objective of this dissertation is to contribute to the development of a framework for action for nutrition educators working in rural areas to use to promote local sustainable food systems. The ultimate objective is to improve the diet, and by extension, the health of those suffering from type 2 diabetes. As part of the research approach, a gendered analysis was employed for the following reasons: First, labour around food production, food procurement and food preparation and health care work is provided predominantly by women. Second, there is a gendered profile of pattern of illness and access to care for people with type 2 diabetes. The research methodology was comprised of a case study and mixed methods approach. Nineteen communities in southwestern Ontario were selected for inclusion in the case study using criteria based on the Rurality Index of Ontario. Data were collected through extensive literature reviews, 34 semi-structured interviews with health professionals, a survey of 24 people afflicted with type 2 diabetes and ‘in situ’ observations. Analysis of the findings using grounded theory techniques, such as iterative coding, revealed barriers to, and opportunities for, supporting local sustainable food systems by area health professionals working at local, regional and national scales. This thesis provides important information about gender roles, community capacity, sense of community, and health professional training that should be considered in the development of policies to promote local sustainable food systems.

Concern that youth do not have enough fruit and vegetable intake lead to two strategies implemented to influence intake in the school environment: the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) and Fighting with Food: Battling Chemical Toxicity with Good Nutrition program (FF), which could influence phytochemical content and knowledge regarding phytochemicals, respectively. Individual food logs (n=468) were assessed upon completion of FF curriculum to determine whether students were able to correctly apply their nutrition knowledge regarding FF. Menus from one district were analyzed pre-HHFKA and post-HHFKA in elementary (n=156), middle (n=171), and high schools (n=171), for change in the frequency of fruit and vegetables, and for changes in select phytochemical and vitamin content. In food logs, students correctly identified fighting foods 71% of the time. School menus showed an increase in dark green, red/orange vegetables, with significant increases in carotenoid and flavonol content. Results suggest students are applying their nutrition knowledge. Also, more variety of fruit and vegetables are being offered, despite lack of a robust increase in all phytochemicals, which can help to lower inflammation and oxidative stress. Both strategies have the potential to work together as a multi-level intervention that can encourage more fruit and vegetable consumption among youth.