Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Applied Science in Food and Nutrition, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Introduction: South Africa, like many other developing countries, is challenged by malnutrition among children. Globally, the nutritional status of children is a cause for great concern. The nutritional shift towards diets laden with sugar, fat and salt contribute towards the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Snacking plays a pivotal role in the diets of children; however, the consumption of unhealthy snacks or ‘junk’ food poses a serious risk to a child’s nutritional well-being. Moringa oleifera was selected for snack food development in this study, as this plant is a significant source of nutrients. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the snacking preferences of children (grades 4-7 in four schools in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, in order to develop a sensory acceptable snack enhanced with Moringa oleifera. Methodology: Two hundred primary school children between grades 4-7 were selected through stratified random sampling of schools in Verulam, KZN, South Africa through informed consent to participate in this study. In addition, ten parents/caregivers formed part of the preliminary study to determine the snacking habits of children in the selected grades. This information was reported in the form of themes. A Snack Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFQ) was administered to children for the sole purpose of determining snacking preferences. This was supplemented by an observational study to assist with identifying the most frequent tuck shop purchases. Thereafter, once the top three snack items were identified, the main study continued with the development of a healthy snack, through three cooking trials before an appropriate product was developed. The final product was made using three different amounts of dried Moringa leaves (1g Moringa, 2g Moringa and 3g Moringa per 22g portion) in a maize chip. The developed product was then subjected to nutrient testing in order to determine the vitamin A, zinc, iron and calcium content of the three different variants. The carbohydrate, fat, energy and sodium values were calculated by using the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) International standardised methods. Microbiological and shelf life testing were also conducted to ensure the chips were safe for human consumption. Consumer acceptance sensory evaluation was conducted among the children (n=100) to determine the most preferred amount of Moringa leaf in the snack food item (either 1g of Moringa or 2g Moringa). To determine which of the two variants (sample 1 containing 1g of Moringa and sample 2 containing 2g Moringa) was preferred, two variants of the product were sampled by the participants; samples were coded in order to prevent bias. Results: Overall, the results from the focus group study revealed that children consumed snacks frequently and were given money regularly to purchase snack items from the school tuck shop. Price was a trend noted in factors that affect snack selection. The parents/caregivers responded positively towards purchasing a snack that was nutrient-rich. However, it was noted that the price should be reasonable. Results of the SFFQ indicated that the most popular snack items were chips, cold drinks and sweets; therefore these items were reviewed to determine the most viable option for further development. It was decided by the researcher and the supervisor that chips would be the snack item enhanced with three different amounts of Moringa. The consumer acceptance sensory evaluation comprised two chip samples (123 and ABC). The results of the consumer acceptance sensory evaluation showed that sample ABC (2g Moringa/22g serving) was preferred to sample 123 (1g Moringa/22g serving) for most of the sensory attributes (taste and texture). The Moringa chips (both samples) contain almost half the amount of sodium (52.8mg) when compared to a popular corn chip brand (100mg). Moringa chips contained almost less than 1 gram of fat compared to 8 grams of fat found in the corn chips children usually consume. One portion (22g) of the Moringa chips contributes a significant amount of non-haem iron (57.89%, 48.25% and 35.61% for sample 1, 2 and 3 respectively) for females aged between 9-13 years old. Conclusion: Moringa chips (2g/22g serving) received a positive response from children in the sample population. The use of indigenous plants such as Moringa, could be beneficial in food based strategies aimed at addressing malnutrition. Recommendations: This study concluded that food based strategies such as the development of the Moringa chips, should be considered as a means to create a healthy option for children in low socio-economic schools. / M

Master´s thesis deals with design of a three floor budilding of support areas for ice-hockey stadium. Specificaly they are changing rooms, snack bar and toilets, fitness center with wellness and administration premises.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether providing residents of the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center Community Living Center with a choice of nourishment options between meals would improve their satisfaction with the nourishment administration process. As opposed to being given the same nourishment item each day, residents were offered choices from a nourishment cart based upon their diet order. Sixteen residents completed the pre-survey, participated in the revised nourishment cart system for a 3-week period, and completed the postsurvey. Level of satisfaction was determined by analyzing the responses given by the residents on the pre- and post-surveys. There were increases in the overall level of satisfaction the residents felt with the incorporation of the new nourishment cart system.

Background: Loneliness, a feeling of distress, has aggravated due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and reduced social interactions. The objective of this study was to explore whether increased loneliness due to the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with various eating and activity behaviours in adolescence, a critical period for the development of lasting lifestyle habits. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used self-reported data from 43,588 and 40,521 Canadian adolescents aged 12-19 years (collected between November 2020 and June 2021) for eating habits and the 24-hour movement behaviours, respectively. Binary and multinomial logistic regression were used to predict the odds of various lifestyle behaviours among adolescents with increased loneliness due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: We found higher odds of skipping breakfast [boys: OR 1.41 (95% CI: 1.33, 1.50), girls: OR 1.64 (95% CI: 1.56, 1.74)], fast food consumption [1-2 days in the past week: girls - OR: 1.14 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.21); ≥3 days in the past week: boys - 1.12 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.24), girls - OR: 1.42 (95% CI: 1.29, 1.57)], not meeting screen time [boys: OR 1.43 (95% CI: 1.24, 1.66), girls: OR 1.72 (95% CI: 1.54, 1.92)], and sleep duration guidelines [boys: OR 1.38 (95% CI: 1.28, 1.48), girls: OR 1.36 (95% CI: 1.27, 1.45)] among adolescents that reported increased loneliness due to the pandemic (versus those in the decreased/stayed the same loneliness group). Conclusion: Future longitudinal studies in adolescents are needed to confirm the directionality of these associations. It is important to raise awareness of these findings among public health practitioners, policymakers, physicians, schools and parents to promote healthier eating habits and increase adherence to the 24-hour movement behaviours. Recovery efforts post-pandemic are needed to reduce loneliness levels to support adolescent social health and establish healthy behavioural habits across the lifespan.

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This thesis investigates how a tax and warning label on less healthy snack food products may affect consumer behaviour when the imposition of the tax is a source of consumer information. A survey that included choice experiments was implemented in supermarkets. Participants were asked to choose between high fat snacks, some displaying a stigmatizing warning label, and healthier snacks. Multinomial logit and latent class models exploring choice were estimated and a predictive hypothetical market was set up. Results show that the warning label had a negative price premium of about $4. The effect of price, though small, becomes even smaller as BMI increases. A fat tax for health is not recommended because it might not hit the target population, people were not very price sensitive, and it would likely be regressive. To encourage health, it appears to be more effective to display a warning label than to apply a tax. / Agricultural and Resource Economics

La présente étude concerne l’évaluation de l’impact du séchage par air chaud (HAD), lyophilisation (FD) et « swell drying » (SD), procédé couplant le séchage par air chaud avec le procédé de Détente Instantanée Contrôlée (DIC), sur les fraises (Fragaria var. Camarosa). Il s’agit de comparer et de contraster les performances des procédés et la qualité du produit fini séché en termes des cinétiques de séchage et de réhydratation, de contenus en molécules bioactives et activité antioxydante, et des paramètres caractéristiques de texture comme croquant et croustillant. Les résultats obtenus ont montré que le procédé de SD comparé aux procédés classiques de séchage et de lyophilisation, réduit d’une façon importante le temps de séchage ainsi que les coûts d’opération. D’autre part, SD conserve la qualité nutritionnelle des fraises en gardant leur contenu en composants bioactifs et en augmentant leur disponibilité. De plus, une corrélation importante entre la capacité antioxydante et le contenu total d’anthocyanes a été établie. D’autre part, les fraises séchées par SD ont montré une très intéressante macro et micro-structure. Les produits ont présenté une haute expansion et une croustillance significative due au phénomène de micro-alvéolation par décompression instantanée par DIC. D’ailleurs, il a été possible de mesurer les caractéristiques instrumentales de croustillance/croquance des échantillons finaux séchés. Grâce à la possibilité de modifier, contrôler et optimiser les paramètres opératoires du procédé DIC, il a été possible d’obtenir un produit du type « snack » croustillant avec une très haute valeur nutritionnelle. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hot air drying (HAD), freeze-drying (FD) and swell drying (SD), which is a coupling of hot air drying to instant controlled pressure drop, (DIC) on the strawberry (Fragaria var. Camarosa) to compare and to contrast its quality in terms of drying and rehydration kinetics, bioactive compounds and its antioxidant activity, and texture parameters as crunchy and crispy features. The obtained results shown that SD method helped to reduce the drying time leading to a low-cost processing compared with classical hot air drying and freezedrying. SD globally preserved the strawberry’s nutritional value and bioactive compounds, increasing their availability. Moreover, a strong correlation between antioxidant activity and total anthocyanin content was established in SD strawberries. On the other hand, the swell-dried strawberries showed an interesting macro and micro-structure. They presented a high expansion ratios and significant crispness provoked by the micro-alveolation phenomenon induced as consequence of the instant decompression process in the DIC treatment. Moreover, it was possible to instrumentaly measure the crispy/crunchy features of the final dried samples. By assessing such crispy and healthy contents of fruit “snacking”, it was possible to modify, control, and optimize DIC operating parameters. And, it can be designed according to the industrial or consumer needs.

En el presente trabajo se muestra un estudio de prefactibilidad para la implementación de una planta procesadora de snacks de oca frita donde se evalúa la viabilidad técnica, económica y de mercado. / In this work is showed a study of pre-feasibility for the implementation of a processing plant to produce fried yam snacks where the technical, economic and market viability is assessed. / Trabajo de investigación

The area is located in the vicinity of the Brno reservoir, specifically from the shipping dock to the bay Rakovec. The project addresses the links between these two points by pedestrian, bicycle and wheel-promenade, which runs both on shore and on the water. The first part is the area of pedestrian zone with buildings in the form of waves, which offers various services such as restaurant equipment, information center and a music bar and more others. Buildings protrude from the terrain field and they are designed as a reinforced concrete structure with steel beams and their roofs are walkable. In addition, walking and biking trails continue along the shore and they are separated by terrain elevation. The complex of cultural, social and sports center is located in the ness of existing beach Kozí Horka. There is a proposed cultural center facilities, stage and auditorium, café & snack bar, showers and public toilets, first aid, bike rental and sports facilities. These functions are grouped into four objects solved as a timber (light wood frame, sandwich external walls with ventilated facade). The buildings are single-storey construction with a height of 4000 mm and wheelchair accessible. Stage and auditorium is solved afloat on circular piers mobile on rails. These piers conclude two buildings into the arc from the shore; their mass is hidden behind the structure of steel beams covered by wooden logs (driftwood) acting as waterfowl nest in the view from the shores. Pedestrian and bicycle promenade continues along the shore and is connected by the bridge to the yacht club.

[ES] Son muchos los estudios que vinculan el alto contenido en compuestos bioactivos de las frutas con un papel beneficioso para la salud. Por otra parte, el consumidor, cada vez más exigente, está concienciado del interés de contribuir a la mejora de su salud a través de la alimentación. No obstante, y a pesar de los intentos de la administración, no se consigue aumentar el consumo de fruta entre la población. Esto, en parte, es consecuencia del estilo de vida actual que resulta, en cierta medida, incompatible con alimentos que deben adquirirse casi a diario y que resultan incómodos en su manejo para su consumo. En este sentido, puede resultar interesante ofrecer productos de fruta de alta calidad en formatos que sean estables y de fácil consumo. Con este objetivo, en esta Tesis se plantea la obtención de un producto de pomelo en polvo y en snack. En ambos casos se parte del puré de pomelo formulado con diferentes biopolímeros que actúan como carriers y confieren estabilidad al producto final. Así, la primera parte de la Tesis se centra en la caracterización física y comparación de polvos de pomelo obtenidos por dos diferentes métodos de deshidratación como son secado por liofilización y por atomización. Además, se ha estudiado el efecto la incorporación de biopolímeros en la calidad de los productos en polvo obtenidos y también reconstituidos. Según los resultados alcanzados, la liofilización se presenta como mejor proceso que la atomización para la obtención de un producto de pomelo, tanto en polvo como rehidratado. En cuanto a los biopolímeros, cuya incorporación es necesaria para facilitar el proceso y estabilizar al producto, parece que la combinación de los compuestos ensayados favorece algunas de las propiedades del polvo, tales como la solubilidad, higroscopicidad, el tiempo de mojado y la dispersabilidad. Para la obtención del snack, se ha trabajado con la liofilización por tratarse de un proceso que proporciona productos de alta calidad y valor añadido. En este sentido, aunque es un proceso lento y energéticamente costoso, parece apropiado optimizarlo para obtener productos de fruta. Así, la segunda parte de la Tesis recoge los resultados del estudio realizado para evaluar el efecto de la velocidad de congelación, así como de la temperatura (ambiente, 25 y 40ºC) y presión (0.05, 0.5 y 1 mbar) durante el secado en la duración del proceso y en la calidad del producto. En este caso se ha trabajado con el puré de pomelo formulado con goma Arábiga y fibra de bambú. Además, se ha analizado la evolución de la temperatura del producto durante su liofilización. Las conclusiones obtenidas permiten proponer a la liofilización como técnica para obtener snacks de fruta con un color, textura y contenido en vitamina C adecuados, trabajando a 0.05 mbar y 40 ºC, para acortar el tiempo de secado. Por su parte, el registro en continuo de la temperatura del producto puede utilizarse como herramienta para establecer el punto final del proceso. / [CA] Són molts els estudis que vinculen l'alt contingut en compostos bioactivos de les fruites amb un paper beneficiós per a la salut. D'altra banda, el consumidor, cada vegada més exigent, està conscienciat de l'interés de contribuir a la millora de la seua salut a través de l'alimentació. No obstant això, i a pesar dels intents de l'administració, no s'aconseguix augmentar el consum de fruita entre la població. Açò, en part, és conseqüència de l'estil de vida actual que resulta, en certa manera, incompatible amb aliments que han d'adquirir-se quasi diàriament i que resulten incòmodes en el seu maneig per al seu consum. En este sentit, pot resultar interessant oferir productes de fruita d'alta qualitat en formats que siguen estables i de fàcil consum. Amb este objectiu, en esta Tesi es planteja l'obtenció d'un producte de pomelo en pols i en snack. En ambdós casos es partix del puré de pomelo formulat amb diferents biopolímeros que actuen com carriers i conferixen estabilitat al producte final. Així, la primera part de la Tesi se centra en la caracterització física i comparació de pols de pomelo obtingut per dos diferents mètodes de deshidratació com són assecat per liofilització i per atomització. A més, s'ha estudiat l'efecte la incorporació de biopolímeros en la qualitat dels productes en pols obtinguts i també reconstituïts. Segons els resultats aconseguits, la liofilització es presenta com a millor procés que l'atomització per a l'obtenció d'un producte de pomelo, tant en pols com rehidratat. Quant als biopolímeros, la incorporació dels quals és necessària per a facilitar el procés i estabilitzar al producte, pareix que la combinació dels compostos assajats afavorix algunes de les propietats de la pols, com ara la solubilitat, higroscopicidad, el temps de mullat i la dispersabilidad. Per a l'obtenció del snack, s'ha treballat amb la liofilització per tractar-se d'un procés que proporciona productes d'alta qualitat i valor afegit. En este sentit, encara que és un procés lent i energèticament costós, pareix apropiat optimitzar-ho per a obtindre productes de fruita. Així, la segona part de la Tesi arreplega els resultats de l'estudi realitzat per a avaluar l'efecte de la velocitat de congelació, així com de la temperatura (ambient, 25 i 40ºC) i pressió (0.05, 0.5 i 1 mbar) durant l'assecat, en la duració del procés i en la qualitat del producte. En este cas s'ha treballat amb el puré de pomelo formulat amb goma Aràbiga i fibra de bambú. A més, s'ha analitzat l'evolució de la temperatura del producte durant la seua liofilització. Les conclusions obtingudes permeten proposar a la liofilització com a tècnica per a obtindre snacks de fruita amb un color, textura i contingut en vitamina C adequats, treballant a 0.05 mbar i 40 ºC, per a acurtar el temps d'assecat. Per la seua banda, el registre en continu de la temperatura del producte pot utilitzar-se com a ferramenta per a establir el punt final del procés. ¿ / [EN] There are many studies that link the high content of bioactive compounds in fruits with a beneficial role for health. On the other hand, the consumer, increasingly demanding, is aware of the interest of contributing to the improvement of their health through food. However, and despite the attempts of the administration, it is not possible to increase the consumption of fruit among the population. This, in part, is a consequence of the current lifestyle that is, to a certain extent, incompatible with foods that must be purchased almost daily and that are uncomfortable in their handling for consumption. In this sense, it can be interesting to offer high quality fruit products in formats that are stable and easy to consume. With this objective in mind, this Thesis proposes obtaining a grapefruit product both powdered and snack. In both cases, grapefruit puree was formulated with different biopolymers that act as carriers and confer stability to the final product. Thus, the first part of the Thesis focuses on the physical characterization and comparison of grapefruit powders obtained by two different methods of dehydration, such as freeze and spray drying. In addition, the effect of incorporating biopolymers on the quality of the obtained powdered products and also after rehydration has been studied. According to the results achieved, freeze-drying is presented as a better process than spray-drying to obtain a grapefruit product, both powdered and rehydrated. As for the biopolymers, whose incorporation is necessary to facilitate the process and stabilize the product, it seems that the combination of the compounds tested favors some of the properties of the powder, such as solubility, hygroscopicity, wetting time and dispersibility. To obtain the snack, freeze-drying was selected because it is a process that provides products of high quality and added value. In this sense, although it is a slow and energetically expensive process, it seems appropriate to optimize it to obtain fruit products. Thus, the second part of the Thesis collects the results of the study conducted to evaluate the effect of the freezing rate, as well as the temperature (ambient, 25 and 40ºC) and pressure (0.05, 0.5 and 1 mbar) during drying, in the duration of the process and the quality of the product. In this case we have worked with the grapefruit puree formulated with gum Arabic and bamboo fiber. In addition, the evolution of the temperature of the product during its freeze-drying has been analyzed. The conclusions obtained allow us to propose freeze-drying as a technique to obtain fruit snacks with a suitable color, texture and vitamin C content, working at 0.05 mbar and 40 ºC, to shorten the drying time. On the other hand, the continuous recording of the temperature of the product can be used as a tool to establish the end point of the process. ¿ / A la Secretaria de Educación Superior, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (SENESCYT) de la República del Ecuador, por la ayuda económica otorgada (Contrato NºAR2Q-8550), que ha permitido la elaboración de esta tesis doctoral. / Egas Astudillo, LA. (2019). Aplicación de la atomización y la liofilización para la obtención de polvo y snack de pomelo [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/129860 / TESIS