Online Master of Agricultural and Life Sciences

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https://hdl.handle.net/10919/51287

The Online Master of Agricultural and Life Sciences (OMALS), http://www.cals.vt.edu/online/, is uniquely positioned to meet the evolving and dynamic needs of today’s agricultural professionals. The program offers concentrations in the areas of agribusiness, applied animal behavior and welfare, applied nutrition and physical activity, education, environmental science, food safety and biosecurity, and leadership studies, as well as plant science and pest management. In addition to engaging classes, students benefit from the opportunity to work on-on-one with well-respected faculty in Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to complete a rigorous final project, using what they've learned and developing real-world research and communication skills. This collection showcases final projects completed by current and former OMALS students.

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 315

Evaluating Virginia Tech's Next-Level Leadership Program
New, Annabelle Grace (Virginia Tech, 2024-12-19)
Virginia Tech Athletics developed a leadership Program, Next-Level Leadership (NLL)- to help aid student-athletes and grow their leadership skills. The vision of the program is for the participants to be able to lead themselves, lead their team, and to leave their legacy. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to understands the operations of program and make recommendations for further improvement. To do this I evaluated the program from the perspective of both the instructor and the participants to find more success in the program and for the betterment of the student-athletes participating. This study included a semi-structured interview of the administrator of the program and analyzed program evaluations from 2022-2024. Both the collection of data and analysis provided themes of positive comments about the community from both the participants in the questionnaires and the head facilitator when she stated it as one of the goals of the program. The student-athlete participants left suggestions in the questions from what they liked and wanted more of to what changes they would like made. The interview revealed the head facilitator’s take on the program, she explained what goes into the program, how she evaluates them, and how she perceived the effectiveness of both the inputs and her leadership into the program. Both the participants and the facilitator expressed their enjoyment of the program as well as some suggestions with the hope to improve the program for the participants and their leadership development.
Enhancing Awareness and Access to Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Resources in the Workplace
Julich, Mary (Virginia Tech, 2024-12-12)
The rate of type 2 diabetes amongst working-age adults is on the rise and addressing prevention in the workplace has become increasingly essential. Strategies such as promoting better nutrition, encouraging regular physical activity, and raising awareness of local resources can aid in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this project is to create a general nutrition education resource for Virginia Tech employees about type 2 diabetes through the university’s worksite wellness program, Hokie Wellness. This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in increasing employees' ability to make lifestyle changes and access local resources for diabetes prevention. A needs assessment identified employees’ interest in learning about type 2 diabetes, specifically around recommended dietary patterns, physical activity, and resources within the community. The program was delivered as a virtual workshop. It focused on practical lifestyle changes, such as reading nutrition labels, being mindful of food portions, and incorporating physical activity. It also connected participants to complimentary resources such as Virginia Tech’s Nutrition Counseling Services and the Virginia Cooperative Extension Diabetes Prevention Program. Evaluation surveys indicated that participants felt more informed about diabetes prevention, confident in applying learned strategies, and motivated to seek out the local resources discussed. These results indicate that workplace wellness programs can play an essential role in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes amongst employees. By promoting awareness and supporting lifestyle changes, these programs contribute to a healthier, more engaged workforce and community.
On Farm Evaluation of Cover Crops for Nitrogen Management in Cotton
Joyner, Qudre (Virginia Tech, 2024-12-10)
Within the agricultural industry, producers are always inquiring and exploring for ways to limit risk, decrease inputs and increase yield and outputs. These novel agronomic practices such as cover crop are being examined to an entirely new and different level. One aspect of cover crops which has gained popularity and is now a hot topic within the agricultural community is that of cover crops usage as a green manure and its subsequent effects on nutrient cycling, with significant regard towards legume cover crops. Legumes are known for fixing their own nitrogen when sufficiently inoculated with Rhizobacterium, thus with their senescence or termination much of this nitrogen and other nutrients are released into the soil profile and made available for the following crops. With this study, cover crops, specifically legume cover crops, were studied to see what effects they had on nutrient cycling within cotton production and supporting benefits that yielded from the usage of this agronomic practice in real world applications.
Evaluating Two Grasses Native to Southwest Virginia
Golding, Dillon (Virginia Tech, 2024-12-10)
Most agricultural grasslands in the southeastern United States are made up of cool-season nonnative species. This is due to a variety of factors such as familiarity of farmers with those species, their ease of proliferation, and an extended growing season. Some literature has indicated the presence of savannahs and meadows made up of native grass species in the southeast, including Piedmont and northern Virginia, but no research has been performed focusing on ecotypes from Southwest Virginia. A remnant native grassland in Carroll County, VA containing the native grasses little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and splitbeard bluestem (Andropogon ternarius) formed the basis for this project. Seed hay was collected from these species for the purpose of testing the viability of establishing these local ecotypes and comparing them to more distant ecotypes of the same species. A hay transfer experiment tested the effects of a low and high rate of seed-hay biomass transferred on establishment, as well as a pre-transfer glyphosate application. An establishment experiment tested the establishment of little bluestem and splitbeard bluestem under Southwest Virginia field conditions. Establishment was poor across experiments and across ecotypes, affected by drought and heavy weed pressure. Local ecotypes performed the best in the variety trial, but the impact of this performance is hindered by low establishment over the whole experiment. There was no significant evidence that a higher rate of hay transfer or a pre-hay transfer glyphosate spray had an effect reducing weed populations in the hay transfer experiment. This suggests that the weed control methods used in this experiment would be ineffective for producers under similar conditions.
Developing Middle School Youth’s Understanding of Soil Health through Supplementary Activities and the USDA “Soil Your Undies” Challenge
Dyer, Meagan (Virginia Tech, 2024-11-15)
Soil is a critical natural resource that impacts life as crops, livestock, water systems, and ecosystems all rely on it. While conducting a gardening program with a group of youth at a middle school 4-H after school program, the USDA Soil Your Undies Challenge was utilized to teach basic soil science concepts. The Soil Your Undies Challenge requires a pair of cotton underwear to be buried for a minimum of eight weeks. Students are unable to observe the experiment during these eight weeks. Because of this, a need for prolonged student engagement was identified and six weekly soil science lessons were developed. The lessons were developed using the Experiential Learning Theory. Students participated in a 40-minute soil science lesson once a week for eight weeks. The participants were youth in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade at a middle school after-school program. Data was collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the weekly soil science lessons created to supplement the USDA’s Soil Your Undies Challenge. Students took a pretest before the first activity and a posttest following the final lesson. Short free response exit surveys following each lesson and educator observations helped document the students’ learning and engagement. There were nine youth who attended at least 50% of the weekly programs and they on average increased their knowledge of soil science by 80% when comparing pre and post test scores. Based on findings from the data, the lessons have been revised and are ready to be piloted with other 4-H programs.
Factors that Contribute to the Resiliency and Longevity of Higher Education Faculty in High Stress Positions such as Academic Advisors and Mental Health Practitioners
Racek, Lisa (Virginia Tech, 2024-11-20)
This report discusses the phenomenon of resilience as experienced by higher education faculty in high stress roles, specifically academic advisors who have large caseloads and mental health practitioners in collegiate counseling centers. Several factors are explored and their effects on resiliency and longevity, including environment, leadership, peer support, and personal motivation. Drawing on phenomenology, research literature, and the author’s research among the target population, common themes and factors are identified that contribute and detract from employee’s efficiency and well-being. This research is significant for not only staff in these roles to consider professionally in terms of their own well-being, but also for university leadership to be able to identify where, systemically, improvements can be made to ensure the best possible work environment for their employees in these high stress roles to prevent stress, burnout, and high turnover.
A Review and Prospects on the Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in Precision Agriculture for the Mid-Atlantic United States
Thompson, Aaron Scott (Virginia Tech, 2024-11-14)
This case study is a comprehensive evaluation of the level of adoption for precision agriculture Unmanned Aerial Systems, (UAS) in farming activities in the Mid-Atlantic United States. For context, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) as an aircraft that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft. The term UAS encompasses the unmanned aircraft (UA) (commonly referred to as drones), the controller on the ground, and the communication link between them. This system allows for the operation and navigation of unmanned aircraft. Since the turn of the 19th Century, industrialized agriculture has advanced globally at a rate that is hard to imagine. This advancement has been highly accelerated since the dawn of the digital era. Part of that digital technology advancement has come in the form of UAS. UAS provide a scalable technology platform to accomplish improved efficiency for individual agricultural work functions such as crop/herd monitoring and precision spraying solutions. This case study assesses the integration levels of agricultural UAS operations, specifically within smaller farms, orchards, and vineyards, across the Mid-Atlantic compared to the rest of the United States. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the extent to which UAS integration in the Mid-Atlantic United States has been effective, as well as to identify barriers that have caused Mid-Atlantic UAS implementation rates to be lower than those of the Western United States. Using qualitative in-field interviews and quantitative data analysis, the study examines the effect of UAS technology on crop/herd management, pest management, irrigation management, and overall farm productivity. Finally, this case study examines the financial impact of incorporating agricultural UAS into the average-sized Mid-Atlantic farm versus maintaining standard practices. The analysis compares outcomes when hiring a drone service versus purchasing and implementing a drone program internally. Economic implications of drones on net-profit and expenses for a representative 200-acre soybean farm are projected utilizing a University of Tennessee enterprise budget (Appendix A) and RStudio visualizations (Appendix B). The study also examines legal and regulatory components around drones utilized in agriculture, such as airspace restrictions, data/general privacy, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) policy compliance. This case study revealed practical contributions of drone technology for Mid-Atlantic agriculture allowing farmers, policy makers and other stakeholders to make informed decisions about the uses and expansion of UAS in agricultural operations.
Sterilization Timing Effects on Lengths of Stay in Shelter Dogs and Cats with Positive Outcome
McDonald, Amita (Virginia Tech, 2024-08-09)
In 2023, an estimated 6.5 million pets entered one of the thousands of animal welfare organizations across the United States. Currently, animal shelters are experiencing a capacity crisis as an additional 900,000 animals have entered shelters since 2021 and have remained in care. Previous studies have attributed longer lengths of stay to many factors about the animal and shelter, including abnormal or problem behaviors, medical conditions and treatment, and available resources. Understanding how the timing of an animal’s sterilization surgery can affect its length of stay might aid in the development of evidence-based best practices regarding this procedure. The current study utilized records sourced by Shelter Animals Count, a nonprofit organization that maintains a centralized database of United States animal sheltering data, for the year 2023 to investigate what shelter and animal variables, including the timing of its sterilization surgery, affect dog and cat lengths of stay. Our analysis showed significant relationships between sterilization surgery timing and days in the shelter, such that adopted dogs and those that were transferred out for placement had the shortest lengths of stay when sterilized post-outcome, while adopted and transferred cats had the shortest lengths of stay when sterilized before their arrival to the shelter. Moreover, we uncovered relationships between an animal’s length of stay and how it arrived at the shelter and the animal’s positive outcome as well as the region in which the shelter was located and the type of positive outcome it experienced. In all, we found associations between sterilization surgery and length of stay, in addition to impacts of intake type and geographic region, that suggest the timing of this procedure could impact animal welfare and organizational resources, and warrants further investigation.
The economic and environmental impact of Biofuel on US farmers and the food market
Ishida, Yuki (Virginia Tech, 2024-08-19)
This project investigates the economic and environmental impacts of biofuel production on US farmers and the food market. With the rising importance of renewable energy, biofuels derived from corn and soybeans have gained prominence due to policies like the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). This study aims to (1) assess the economic effects on US farmers, including changes in income, crop prices, and land use, (2) evaluate the environmental impacts, focusing on greenhouse gas emissions, soil health, and water use, (3) identify the implications for the US food market, including food prices and availability, and (4) explore the policy implications for supporting sustainable biofuel production while ensuring food security. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, analyzing academic articles, policy reports, and empirical studies. The findings reveal that biofuel production has led to higher crop prices and increased farm revenues, particularly benefiting corn and soybean producers. However, these economic benefits are unevenly distributed, with smaller farms facing challenges. Environmentally, while biofuels can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the associated land-use changes can negate these benefits. Sustainable agricultural practices are essential to mitigate negative environmental impacts. The food market analysis indicates that biofuel production has contributed to higher food prices, raising concerns about food security. The study recommends policies supporting diverse farms, promoting sustainable practices, and balancing biofuel production with food security needs. Additionally, fostering industry-university partnerships and utilizing cooperative extension programs can enhance information dissemination and support sustainable biofuel production practices. This research underscores the need for a balanced approach to biofuel production that considers both economic and environmental sustainability.
Design and Implementation of a Pilot Collegiate Sleep Health Incentive Program
Anderson, Abigail (Virginia Tech, 2024-08-06)
This study examined collegiate sleep health habits and aimed to design a sleep health promotion program to support better quality sleep for college students. A variety of factors affect college students’ sleep health and affect the current state of campus wellness programming. Although various studies have examined sleep education incentive programs among college students, few utilized the Self-Determination theoretical framework to focus on students' psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. This current study focused on delivering sleep education activities to college students to foster long-lasting behavior change for sleep health rooted in Self-Determination Theory. A total of eight Virginia Tech Summer 1, online students completed the 5-week sleep intervention which delivered a module based asynchronous sleep education course through the CANVAS learning platform. As an incentive to participate in the program, they were offered extra credit points to be added to their final course grade. Participants engaged in a pre-program sleep hygiene index assessment to assess current sleep habits, then they engaged in several weeks of educational, social, and physical activities designed to help promote healthy sleep habits. After the program, participants filled out an additional sleep hygiene index survey to compare results as well as a post-program survey which assessed the success rate of the program. Post-program results showed a significant improvement in sleep hygiene (p < 0.001) with 87.5% of participants made positive habit changes to their sleep and 100% of participants would recommend the Goodnight Hokies sleep education program to other students. In addition, several of the weekly activities received a 50% positive relation to SDT. Even though 100% of participants would recommend this program to other students the study still had an overall attrition rate of 52.5% with only eight students completing the entire program.
Students’ Perceptions of Social Media Technology and its Use in Their Academic Journey
Johnson, Matthew (Virginia Tech, 2024-08-09)
Social media is a term used to describe digital platforms that connect and engage individuals worldwide. Such platforms can take the form of Instagram, X (formerly, Twitter), Canvas, LinkedIn, Discord, etc. Social media helps users “gain knowledge” of important topics “as well as others’ activities, thoughts, and stories” (Zhao & Zhou, 2020, p.1032). Since its creation, social media use has grown tremendously. So much so, that it has almost permeated every aspect of our lives. Educational spaces have especially shown evidence of an “increased use of social networking by students to perform academic activities” (Alamri, 2019, p.64). Social media is ever-present in classrooms, educational centers, and professional settings throughout the world. However, it was once stated that despite social media’s prevalence, teaching and learning “in colleges and universities” had “largely remained unchanged” (Tierney et al., 2014, p.2). Now, post the COVID-19 pandemic, many students have switched to online learning platforms to gain their education. Thus, this study was conducted to better understand and explore the changes that have come from social media’s presence in the classroom. The research from this study reveals that online master's students are reluctant to connect with their professors on social media. They also express skepticism of social media technology and its place within academia. Ultimately, this further suggests a need for continued research on other student populations to gather a more comprehensive understanding of how social media can be better used within such academic settings.
Why is Fido Stressed? Crossover of Employees’ Job Stress to their Pets
Mitropoulos, Tanya (Virginia Tech, 2024-08-07)
Job stress is an epidemic in the United States, with well-being consequences for the employee, their spouse, and their children. Pets, who most Americans view as family members, may also be susceptible to this crossover effect, or the transference of work-related stress and strains from an employee to their loved ones. Given prior support for cats and dogs’ abilities to perceive, interpret, and absorb a human’s emotions via emotional contagion, I expected that pet dogs and cats of owners with higher job stress would themselves be more stressed. I anticipated that work-related rumination, or the tendency to continue thinking about work during leisure time, would explain this relationship. All variables were measured using self-report scales administered in an online survey, and pets’ stress was captured in two ways: as owner-perceived pet stress and as behaviorally indicated pet stress via separate measures for cats and dogs created for this study. The sample included 107 employees, together owning 85 dogs and 22 cats. Controlling for home stress, I found that job stress related to behaviorally indicated stress in dogs but not cats. Work-related rumination explained this relationship. This study unites organizational research with companion animal welfare and pinpoints a potential contributor to impaired canine welfare. This study also supports the presence of crossover and emotional contagion in the dog-owner bond. Employed dog owners should take care to avoid ruminating about work-related issues when at home to protect the well-being of man’s best friend.
An Evaluation of the Career Game Plan Program at Virginia Tech
Tyson, Paige (Virginia Tech, 2024-08-16)
The purpose of this project was to gain a better understanding of the perspectives and experiences that student-athletes have with the Career Game Plan program at Virginia Tech. In addition, the project sought to identify areas of improvement so that the program can further benefit the future student-athletes who participate. This qualitative study consisted of semi-structured interviews to identify the development of the student-athletes’ career skills. Data was collected by interviewing ten student-athletes who had most recently completed all four events of the Career Game Plan program. After research and analysis of the data, common themes emerged for the aspects of the program that are most valued by student-athletes, highlighting meaningful connections, quality communication, opportunities, and preparation for post-graduate life. The student-athletes also noted inconsistencies with their experience throughout the program and provided some suggestions that they felt would further enhance the student-athlete experience through this program. Interviews revealed that student-athletes truly value this opportunity that Virginia Tech provides for them, and they believe that all student-athletes should take advantage of it.
Implementation of an Intuitive Eating Inspired Meal Planning Education Program in a Private Practice Setting
Bryski, Hailey; Volpe, Stella; Myers, Emily; Papillon, Carol (Virginia Tech, 2024-08-14)
It is common for adults to struggle with eating healthfully whether it is due to busy schedules, budget constraints, or lack of nutrition knowledge. Diet quality is extremely important because it plays a key role in disease prevention and overall quality of life. Clients of a registered dietitian’s private practice located in Blacksburg, Virginia have vocalized a desire to participate in healthier eating habits but feel unprepared to achieve their goals. A needs assessment distributed to individuals in the New River Valley area revealed that their most common barriers to eating healthfully included: lack of time, budget constraints, and absence of easy-to-prepare recipes that meet taste preferences. To address these needs, a live webinar educational program on meal planning and preparation was developed. The pilot program taught meal planning strategies through the lens of intuitive eating, specifically the principles of the satisfaction factor, body respect, and gentle nutrition. The program also covered topics such as food values, component cooking, the Rule of Three, and creating a supportive kitchen environment. Four out of the 11 program participants completed a post-session evaluation survey using a five-point Likert scale. Respondents felt that the topics covered were relevant to their concerns and they expressed an interest in learning more about intuitive eating. Lower scores illustrated that they did not feel as if they obtained a better understanding of certain concepts including component cooking and intuitive eating. Results revealed preliminary efficacy in the program’s outline and foundation, and indications for revisions to meet the program’s goals more effectively. Future program initiatives should elaborate on introduced topics to better educate the target population.
Examining the Feasibility and Implementation of a New Dietary Intake Documentation Method in a Hospital Setting
Gause, Allison (Virginia Tech, 2024-07-29)
Malnutrition affects one in three hospitalized patients in the United States (Sauer et al., 2019). One of the six diagnostic criteria for malnutrition is inadequate dietary intake, which can be tracked in several ways. In hospital settings, tracking and documenting dietary intake is primarily the responsibility of nursing staff or dietitians (Heighington-Wansbrough & Gemming, 2022). This project aimed to develop and present a staff training presentation on a new documentation method, utilizing the Welch Allyn Connex Spot Monitor, a point-of-care technology device. The training was presented to various clinical staff at Inova Alexandria Hospital at two meetings. The training presentation reviewed the importance of accurate meal documentation, the disadvantages of the current method, and instructions on how to follow the new method. Documentation frequency was collected from ten patient charts, with a length of stay greater than three days, from three hospital units before the training. Documentation frequency was measured again one week following the second training and four weeks following the second training. The baseline mean before the intervention was implemented was 4.33 meals per patient. The one-week post-intervention mean meals documented was 6.07 meals per patient and the four-week post-intervention mean was 4.1 meals per patient. The results indicated an increase in meal documentation frequency, across all units, one week following the second training session (p = 0.02). When assessing the maintenance of meal documentation four weeks after the training, the frequency was no longer significantly higher and returned close to the baseline value (p = 0.74). In conclusion, meal documentation frequency increased in the week following the training presentation. The adoption of the new method was not sustained over four weeks and highlighted the need for more regular training on the new documentation method.
Cyberbiosecurity Importance in Relation to Small Fermentation Businesses and How to Integrate it into Known Hazard Planning Tools
Knapp, Jordan; Strawn, Laura K.; Wiersema, Brian D.; Eifert, Joseph D.; Hamilton, Alexis M. (Virginia Tech, 2024-08-07)
Cyberbiosecurity threats are on the rise in many various industries (Drape et al., 2021). With attacks on water treatment plants, medical facilities and more, awareness for what cyberbiosecurity is, what it looks like, and how to implement countermeasures into known hazard planning tools is dire. This project set out to address these issues in the context of small fermentation businesses. A survey was conducted but, due to low response rate, there was no statistical nor quantitative analysis performed on the survey results. The information gleaned from the survey was used to better guide how a factsheet would be created and used to gauge, what the fermentation community in North Carolina and Virginia was aware of in relation to food safety, the Food Safety and Modernization Act, and cyberbiosecurity. A factsheet was designed to guide small fermentation businesses on how to identify cyberbiosecurity is, what hazards exist, how to implement control measures into known hazard planning tools, and what methods exist to better protect their businesses.
Evaluating Experiential Learning & Reflection within an Agricultural Education Setting
Nolen, Emily; Westfall-Rudd, Donna; Ferand, Natalie; Drape, Tiffany (Virginia Tech, 2024-08-05)
This study is focused on the utilization of experiential learning in the agricultural education setting and the importance of incorporating reflective practices within this educational theory. The Cognitive Constructivism Learning Theory provided the framework for this qualitative study. Six participants, including agriculture educators, a core subject educator, and a school administrator participated in this two-part study that included a questionnaire on reflective practices utilized in the classroom and feedback on an annotated student and educator reflective resource. After a thorough analysis of the provided data on experiential learning and reflection, it is noted that these instructional practices provide an array of opportunities and concrete learning experiences for students to actively engage in individualized reflection while gaining access to skill sets such as collaboration, communication, and management skills that can be utilized in future endeavors. In recognizing the various outcomes associated with experiential learning, educational resources were also provided to project participants to review and provide recommendations to enhance the reflective resource pool for educators in Virginia. Upon completion of this project, we were able to define the importance of experiential learning, the positive correlation of reflection as it plays a key role in the experiential process, and the vast array of opportunities and skills derived from the utilization of these methodologies from an educational perspective.
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.
A Multicomponent Initiative to Increase Nutrition Outreach in the East End Neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia
Yancey, Grace; Misyak, Sarah; Myers, Emily; Papillon, Carol (Virginia Tech, 2024-07-22)
Access to healthy food is imperative to support the health of individuals and communities. However, structural inequities have resulted in reduced food access and higher rates of chronic disease in low-income communities. In the East End of Richmond, Virginia, a historically redlined area of the city, residents have reduced healthy food access and experience consequent health disparities. Multiple organizations, food pantries, and urban agriculture initiatives are working to mitigate these food access issues. Bon Secours Community Outreach is aiming to implement nutrition programming in the East End that complements these assets and promotes healthy food access. This project aimed to pilot various nutrition outreach approaches, initiate community engagement, and collect feedback from community members to inform future programming. Nutrition outreach initiatives were adapted to three food access sites including a food pantry, grocery store, and a mobile market to engage with East End residents. Feedback was collected to assess residents’ perceptions on healthy eating behaviors and their preferences around nutrition programming. Engagement levels and feedback collection were highest at the grocery store. Participants indicated preferences for receiving nutrition education from media sources, within community-based spaces, and from medical professionals. A pilot nutrition workshop was implemented that included nutrition education and a cooking demonstration. A Bon Secours dietitian and community health worker provided feedback to revise the workshop for future implementation. This project initiated the first step in community engagement and trialing outreach approaches to inform future nutrition programming.
Maximizing Food Budgets and Diet Quality: An Education Program for Parents and Caregivers of Head Start Children with the Northern Virginia Family Service
Vogt, Ainsley; Misyak, Sarah; Myers, Emily; LaFalce, Amy (Virginia Tech, 2024-07-23)
Given the rising costs of food and groceries from 2023 to 2024, knowledge on food resource management strategies is crucial, especially for low-income families. Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) offers essential resources aimed at fostering stability and self-sufficiency among low-income families through various critical services. This project aims to investigate behavioral intentions related to food purchasing among NVFS parents and caregivers, identifying effective educational resources to encourage healthier food choices while optimizing budgets. An educational session was conducted with five NVFS families in Arlington, Virginia. The session covered topics in food resource management and implementing SNAP recommendations, such as shopping essentials, money-saving strategies, shopping by food group, and nutrition label interpretation. Following the session, participants completed a survey using a Likert scale to gauge their readiness to modify food shopping habits. Results indicated a strong inclination among participants to prioritize certain cost-saving strategies but showed less intent to prioritize other cost-saving strategies and less intent to prioritize nutritional quality. Future educational efforts should build on these cost-saving strategies and emphasize nutritional awareness during grocery shopping to promote the health and well-being of NVFS families and individuals.

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