Food advertising aimed at children in America has been proven to directly impact food preferences, eating behavior and brand loyalty of youth (Story & French, 2004). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the content of television commercials that occurred during children's programming on the popular children's network Nickelodeon. This study examined the frequency, nutritional content and overall advertising techniques associated with food, beverage and restaurant commercials. It also assessed the degree to which children are being exposed to the promotion of unhealthy food, beverage restaurant commercials. This study examined commercials that aired on the Nickelodeon Network between Monday, August 11 through Friday, August 15, 2008 between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on the Comcast Cable System in Stockton, California. The programming was recorded on a VHS tape and then later reviewed and analyzed. Each commercial was examined in the following areas: nutritional content; slogan; branded characters; premium; link to a movie and healthy message. This study demonstrated that 40.65% of the commercials airing between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on the Nickelodeon television network are for food, beverage and/or restaurants. Twenty-six percent of food, beverage and restaurant commercials met or exceeded the daily recommended levels of fat, added sugars, and sodium, and fell short of providing essential nutrients as outlined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (United States Department of Agriculture, 2008). The results of this study indicate that a considerable amount of food commercials targeting children as consumers. Government regulation seems unlikely due to the First Amendment, rights to free speech. This study points to several suggestions for advertisers, advocates, Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU) teachers and parents to address the issue of advertising to children. Some of the suggestions include stricter self-regulation, education and parental responsibility.

Various studies have been done to determine the prevalence of anemia in our country, but these studies don't reflect the true magnitude of this sickness, considered in Ecuador a problem of public health since these investigations correspond to urban sectors and margins and not to rural places where the care is very deficient and in certain cases useless, mainly because of the difficult access and the lack of economic resources of the government institutions. The current work was realized in coordination with the school of Nutrition and Dietetics and with the help of the Benson Agriculture and Food Institute was applied in rural communities of the Indigenous, "Mixed-Race" and African-American of Imbabura taking into account kids under the age of 5 as being a population group in constant risk of suffering specific deficiencies, such as Iron deficiency and its subsequent evolution towards Anemia. In this investigation we are going to find information about the prevalence of Anemia in the before mentioned groups of kids, their relationship with the deficiency of the consumption of Iron, influence of one of the most common sicknesses in these sectors as are Intestinal Parasitism. I am sure that the content will be of enormous interest to those that desire to know and better the critical situation of health and nutrition which unwinds this people, because of the provision of updated and truthful information will permit a better orientation of the different programs and projects that are implemented in these areas.

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The diets of 75 two year old children, participating in the Virginia Beach WIC Program, were evaluated twice. They were analyzed using a 24 hour dietary recall (WIC 329), and again using a computer program (Nutritionist I) for RDA. Diets were examined for the nutrients calcium, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, and iron found in the four food groups on the WIC 329. Each food group and corresponding nutrient was identified with varying degrees of success.The protein and calcium assessment were accurate. Under the conditions of this study, several recommendations can be made. The milk group heading could state that one cup of fluid milk provides 310 IU vitamin A. The vitamin A rich foods yield 6000 IU rather than 4000-5000 IU as indicated on the WIC 329. For vitamin C, only 3/4 serving is required to satisfy the RDA rather than the stated full serving. Iron values could be documented on the WIC 329 for the meat, vitamin A, vitamin C, and bread/cereal group. Iron fortified cereals, supplying at least 45% RDA, could be a separate subgroup to reflect the higher iron content. A truncated regression formula was developed to estimate nutritional status. A ceiling of 150% RDA was used to prevent skewing of nutrients. Use of the regression formula instead of the WIC 329 resulted in a 67% improvement of estimating nutritional status. / Master of Science

Thesis (PhD (Food Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), especially the n-3 LCPUFA metabolic products eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) play an important role as regulators in many biological processes. To date hake (Merluccius capensis) heads, a rich source of EPA and DHA, have been discarded at sea. The South African Fisheries Policy Development Committee concerned with the environmental impact of this practice has rendered it undesirable. The high prevalence of under-nutrition amongst children in South Africa can be addressed by the supplementation of their diet with this unexploited fish source. The aim of the current study was to develop a microbiologically safe and sensory acceptable sandwich spread using fish flour prepared from fish heads, as a prime ingredient. The intervention trial aimed to compare the effects of an increased dietary intake of n-3 LCPUFA, specifically DHA, on the blood fatty acid levels and absenteeism (as indicator of immune function), as well as the cognitive status, of the subjects. The microbiological content of the sandwich spread was determined after storage for 20 d at 5°C and 15 d at 25°C. Sensory evaluation was performed by consumers (n = 95; M:F = 44:51; 6 – 9 yr) to determine acceptance of the five different flavours individually incorporated into the sandwich spread to mask the fishy note and to provide different flavour options. For the intervention trial subjects (n = 351) were stratified within class group (A - E) and gender and randomly assigned to two treatment categories, an experimental group (EG; n = 174) receiving 25 g sandwich spread.d-1 (191.66 mg DHA. d-1) and a control group (CG; n = 177) receiving an analogous placebo. On school days (104 d), each subject received two sandwiches consisting of two slices of bread (ca. 60 g), spread with 25 g of either the placebo or the experimental spread. Blood samples were drawn at baseline and post intervention. Plasma fatty acid and red blood cell (RBC) membrane status, C-reactive protein levels, as well as vitamin and micronutrient status, were determined. Trained test administrators conducted a battery of cognitive tests. According to South African Government health standards, the sandwich spread remained microbiologically safe after storage. Male and female consumer respondents revealed a significant difference between gender preferences of the five different spread flavours (p <0.05). Significant treatment effects (p <0.05) were observed in n-3 LCPUFA status of the EG, as well as for their absenteeism from school. The two subtests of the Hopkins Verbal Learning test, Recognition and Discrimination Index, showed significant differences between the EG and CG (p <0.05) post intervention in the Grade 2 subjects. The Spelling tests also showed a significant difference between the two groups (p <0.05). In the current study a microbiologically safe and sensory acceptable sandwich spread was developed and tested during an intervention trial, and could possibly in future, provide a healthier option in the School Nutritional Programme. This study proved that supplementation of children (6 - 9 yr) with n-3 LCPUFA, with specific reference to EPA and DHA from a marine source, could have a beneficial effect on their fatty acid status and absenteeism from school. Based on the outcomes of the Hopkins Verbal Learning test and Spelling test, the current study proved that an n-3 fatty acid-rich spread improved the learning ability and memory of children.

Because children eat better when their parents use appropriate feeding practices, this study examined WIC participation and parental knowledge about child feeding practices. A Child Feeding Questionnaire was developed to evaluate parental knowledge about these feeding practices. The questions evaluated parents' knowledge about their responsibilities and the responsibilities of their children in feeding situations, the role of parental modeling when eating, appropriate snack habits, management of dislikes/picky eating, and the use of coercive feeding practices. The directors of four WIC clinics, with clients of differing sociodemographic status, agreed to participate in the study. The questionnaire was tested with and revised following work with clients in two of the four WIC clinics. The questionnaire was then administered to 403 parents during WIC certification visits. Cronbach Alpha reliability measures indicated that the reliability of the instrument was low. Therefore, no real conclusions could be drawn from the results. However, the data analyses did suggest some possible findings that would need additional study to verify their existance. ANOVA measures indicated that increased length of WIC participation was not associated with an increase in the total number of correct responses. Parental responds suggested that the majority of respondents understood the responsibility of parents for deciding what foods to offer (88.3), and when to offer food (71.7 %), the importance of healthy snacks in the diet of children (79.4 %), the need to set a good parental example with eating (92.6 %), and the importance of exposing children to foods that the children dislike (80.1%). However, one-third of the parents did not agree or know that children should be resonsible for deciding how much to eat when foods are being offered. In addition, the majority of parents (68.7 %) indicated that it was acceptable to substitute a food for one that is disliked by children. With respect to the use of coercive feeding strategies to get children to eat, parental responses reflected that many parents (46.7 %) did not feel that the use of rewards to get children to eat was not advisable. Based on the researcher's professional knowledge that WIC staff generally provide only nutrition information related to immediate problems, it was recommended that WIC staff members who provide nutrition education might serve the participants better if the education that they provided was directed at broader nutrition issues that parents face in guiding their children to eat well. Perhaps this education will indirectly alleviate immediate nutritional needs of the individual child and prevent the occurance of other nutrition problems. This would require additional study for verification. / Department of Home Economics

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Early cortical injury has been attributed to the consequential effects of various factors, such as alcohol, drug addiction, smoking, and inadequate nutrient intakes during periods of pregnancy and lactation, or delivery of infants by forceps, and premature deliveries. These are only a few examples of circumstances, or "injury", that may result in disorders ranging from mild learning difficulties to aggressive behaviour. Injury to the cortex during the early years of development has been know to result in poor behavioural outcome into adulthood. Presently, the most common form of treatment includes a pharmacological agent, which may be accompanied with behavioral modification therapies supported by families. As an alternative form of therapy towards the treatment of early cortical injury, choline and a vitamin and mineral supplement (EM Power+) were used to determine the possibilities of nutrition intervention in an animal model. The injuries were incurred by aspiration lesion at days three, (Exp.1) and four, (Exp.2) and lesions were localized to the midline medial frontal cortex in some rats, while a different group of rats received lesions in the posterior parietal cortex. The pre-and postnatal choline treated animals showed favorable results for the medial frontal lesions, and the postnatal vitamin supplement treated animals showed favorable results for treatment in both medial frontal and posterior parietal lesions. All animals were tested in adulthood indicating that nutrition intervention is very beneficial for alleviating some of the functional deficits commonly seen from early cortical injury. / xiv, 191 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.

The Maasai of East Africa traditionally consume a diet of milk, meat, and blood. Previous studies have found the Maasai to suffer from vitamin A deficiency (VAD). This micronutrient deficiency compromises systemic immunity and increases morbidity and mortality. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to investigate the vitamin A intake of small Maasai children in Loita, Kenya. On average, children consumed 596mug/dayRAE from retinoid sources and 956mug/dayRAE when coupled with beta-carotene sources. The measles virus (MV) has yet to be eradicated from East Africa and remains a threat to young children. The Maasai have developed methods to deal with this disease and improve systemic immunity by introducing medicinal plants into the diet. Plant species added to the milk and soups of small children were determined using the FFQ. Antiviral properties of the seven most common dietary plants were then investigated, measuring MV neutralization and MV production, and compared to 7 arbitrarily selected non-medicinal plants. Significant differences (X2 p < 0.05) were found between the antiviral actions of medicinal and non-medicinal species.

Thesis (MNutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Objectives: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are known to have feeding difficulties. This study gathered information from parents/caregivers with children diagnosed with ASD. The following aspects were investigated: early feeding history, food preferences, sensory issues, current dietary practices and the use of nutritional supplements and special diets. The study also gathered information regarding these families’ experience with dietitians in supporting them with advice related to dietary problems. Methodology: An online questionnaire was used and the link to the study was placed on the National Autistic Society (NAS) of the United Kingdom’s website to recruit participants. Parents/ caregivers of children aged between 3-16 years and diagnosed with ASD, who resided in England, could take part in the study. Results: Three hundred and twenty five parents/ caregivers participated in the study. The mean age of children was 9.5 years. The majority of children were male (85%). The most common feeding problem was the transition from stage 1 weaning foods to more textured food (55.6%). Sensory problems played a large role in food acceptance. Clear preferences were made for crunchy (81.5%) or dry foods (79%), followed by food with a smooth consistency (69.8%) such as yogurt. Food appearance and presentation (64%) was the main determinant of food acceptance and specific brands and packaging played a major role. Habitual food intake and continually choosing the same foods for meals were present in the majority of children (75.6%). Specific preference was given to the following foods: starchy vegetables (62.6%), refined carbohydrates (81%), processed meat products (69.2%) and dairy products (68.6%). The use of ‘special’ and exclusion diets were not popular. However, where specifically gluten and/ or casein were excluded (19%, n=55), it was generally excluded for more than one year. Reported observations with these exclusions were: improvement in bowel habits, sleep, concentration, behaviour and social communication. The use of nutritional supplements were significantly higher (p<0.5) where exclusion diets were used. A large number of children (43.4%, n=23) on exclusion diets, have not been consulted by a dietitian. Most parents /caregivers (58.1%) had the perception that dietitians were lacking knowledge of ASD and had inadequate knowledge of current dietary interventions for children with ASD (61.7%). However, parents felt that it was reassuring to consult a dietitian, that practical advice was given to improve dietary intake and that generally it reduced their concern regarding their child’s dietary intake. Conclusion: The study highlights the complexity of ASD and the variable effect it has on eating, behaviour and dietary intake. The use of the gluten and casein free (GFCF) diet may improve general wellbeing in some children with ASD when used appropriately and warrants further investigation. It is concerning that only a minority of children on exclusion diets are consulted by dietitians to ensure nutritional adequacy. Due to the complexity of ASD and in the absence of clear guidance for dietary interventions, dietitians who work with children with ASD need to be supported by continued training opportunities in order to enhance their competencies and optimise their service delivery. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Doelwitte: Kinders wat aan Outismespektrum-steuring (OSS) lei is geneig om voedingsprobleme te hê. Die studie het inligting ingesamel van ouers en versorgers met kinders wat met OSS gediagnoseer is. Die volgende aspekte is ondersoek: vroeë voedingsgeskiedenis, voedsel voorkeure, sensoriese probleme, huidige eetgewoontes en die gebruik van nutriëntaanvullings en spesiale diëte. Die studie het ook inligting ingesamel aangaande gesinne se ondervinding met dieetkundiges en ondersteuning met dieetprobleme. Metodologie: ‘n Elektroniese vraellys is gebruik en die skakel na die studie was op die webwerf van die National Autistic Society (NAS) van die Verenigde Koninkryk geplaas om deelnemers te werf. Ouers/ versorgers van kinders tussen die ouderdomme van 3-16 jaar, met ‘n diagnose van OSS en woonagtig in Engeland, kon deelneem aan die studie. Resultate: Drie honderd vyf en twintig ouers/ versorgers het deelgeneem aan die studie. Die gemiddelde ouderdom van die kinders was 9.5 jaar en 85% was manlik. Die mees algemene voedingsprobleem vir kinders met OSS was die oorgangsfase van gladde speningsvoedsel na growwer voedsel (55.6%). Sensoriese probleme het ‘n groot rol gespeel in voedselaanvaarding. Daar was duidelike voorkeure vir bros (81.5%) en droë voedsel (79%), gevolg deur voedsel met ‘n gladde tekstuur soos jogurt (69.8%). Die voorkoms en aanbieding van voedsel het grootliks bepaal of voedsel aanvaarbaar (64%) is. Spesifieke handelsmerke of verpakkings het ‘n groot rol gespeel (64.7%). Die meeste van die kinders (75.6%) het vaste eetgewoontes gehad en dieselfde kos tydens maaltye gekies. Die volgende voedselsoorte was verkies: styselryke groente (62.6%), verfynde koolhidrate (81%), geprosesseerde vleis produkte (69.2%) en suiwel produkte (68.6%). Die gebruik van spesiale en uitsluitingsdiëte was ongewild. Waar gluten- en kaseïen-uitsluitingsdiëte (19%, n=55) gebruik is, is dit meestal vir langer as een jaar gebruik. Met die gebruik van uitsluitingsdiëte is verbeteringe waargeneem in stoelgang gewoontes, slaap, konsentrasie, gedrag en sosiale kommunikasie. Die gebruik van nutriëntsupplemente was beduidend hoër (p<0.5) in die groep waar uitsluitingsdiëte gebruik is. ‘n Hoë persentasie kinders (43.4%, n=23) wat op uitsluitingsdiëte was, is nie deur dieetkundiges gekonsulteer nie. Die meeste ouers /versorgers (58.1%) het gevoel dat dieetkundiges gebrekkige kennis oor OSS en dieetverwante probleme het, asook onvoldoende kennis van huidige dieet intervensies vir kinders met OSS (61.7%). Ouers het wel gevoel dat dit gerusstellend was om dieetkundiges te gaan spreek vir praktiese raad om dieet inname te verbeter. Dit het ook hul kommer veminder aangaande kinders se diëte. Gevolgtrekking: Die studie benadruk die kompleksiteit van OSS en die wisselende effek wat dit op eetgewoontes, gedrag en voedsel inname het. Die gebruik van die gluten- en kaseïenvrye diëte kan moontlik die gesondheid en welsyn van sommige kinders met outisme verbeter mits dit reg gebruik word, maar vereis verdere navorsing. Dit was kommerwekkend dat ‘n minderheid van die kinders op uitsluitingsdiëte deur dieetkundiges gekonsulteer word om voldoende nutriëntinname te verseker. Aangesien OSS ‘n komplekse toestand is en daar ‘n gebrek is aan duidelike riglyne vir dieet intervensies, word dit aanbeveel dat dieetkundiges wat met kinders met OSS werk ondersteun word deur opleidingsgeleenthede om hul vaardighede te verbeter en dienslewering te optimaliseer.