VTechWorks staff will be away for the Thanksgiving holiday beginning at noon on Wednesday, November 27, through Friday, November 29. We will resume normal operations on Monday, December 2. Thank you for your patience.

Browsing by Author "Garcia, Travertine"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Incorporating Mindful Eating Education into a Culinary Nutrition Program for Adolescents in an Urban Food Desert
    McClain, Elizabeth (Virginia Tech, 2024-08-08)
    Culinary nutrition programs can shape children’s long-term eating behaviors. Mindful eating has also been an effective tool for nutritional behavior change in youth and adults by encouraging awareness of food choices, sensory experiences, and internal hunger cues. However, there is limited research on incorporating structured mindful eating education in youth culinary education programming. This study examined the development, implementation, and evaluation of a five-lesson mindful eating-focused curriculum at an after-school cooking program using an exploratory, sequential, mixed-methods design. Short-term outcomes were evaluated using baseline and post-intervention surveys, class recordings, and real-time feedback on mindful eating principles: sensory awareness, understanding the food system, and recognizing environmental distractions. The baseline and post-intervention surveys showed a 9.9% increase in willingness to try new vegetables, 12.3% increase in students' mindful attention, and a 1.8% increase in approach and persistence. Results from the midway survey showed 70% of students reported changes in their food choices. Qualitative results from the midway survey displayed the practical application of Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle by identifying mindful eating techniques outside of the classroom seven students reported identifying food sources, six used their senses, three limited distractions, and seven practiced awareness of hunger and fullness levels. In conclusion, incorporating mindful eating into cooking curricula is feasible and can positively influence students' awareness and application of healthy eating habits. The implications suggest educational programs incorporating mindful eating techniques can be beneficial in promoting nutrition education and helping students optimize their food choices, potentially addressing aspects of food insecurity. Future research should examine the long-term effects of mindful eating education and explore diverse teaching methods to enhance its effectiveness. Developing more sophisticated surveys and assessment tools will also be crucial for accurately measuring short-term outcomes and student learning objectives.
  • Thumbnail Image
    A Qualitative Study of Motivators, Strategies, Barriers, and Learning Needs Related to Healthy Cooking during Pregnancy
    Garcia, Travertine; Duncanson, Kerith; Shrewsbury, Vanessa A.; Wolfson, Julia A. (MDPI, 2021-07-13)
    Nutrition during pregnancy has lifelong impacts on the health of mother and child. However, this life stage presents unique challenges to healthy cooking and eating. Cooking interventions show promising results, but often lack theoretical basis and rigorous evaluation. The objective of this formative, qualitative study was to explore motivators, strategies, and barriers related to healthy cooking during pregnancy. Pregnant individuals’ preferences for a cooking education program were also explored. We conducted five focus groups with pregnant individuals (n = 20) in Southeast Michigan in 2019. Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, then double coded by two members of the research team. Mean gestational age was 18.3 ± 9.6 weeks. Common motivators included feeding other children, avoiding pregnancy complications, promoting fetal growth, and avoiding foodborne illness. Challenges included pregnancy symptoms, navigating nutrition recommendations, mental energy of meal planning, family preferences, and time constraints. Strategies employed were meal planning and including a variety of foods. Participants identified organizational strategies, recipes, nutrition information, and peer support as important components of a cooking intervention during pregnancy. This study characterized multiple challenges to healthy home cooking during pregnancy, providing novel insight to inform the development of cooking skills education programs during this important life stage.