A study of some of the problems in family foods and nutrition of dual-role mothers in Giles County, Virginia, with implications for service by homemaking teachers

The purpose of this study was (1) to determine some of the problems in family foods and nutrition of dual-role mothers in Giles County, Virginia, and (2) to make recommendations of types of assistance homemaking teachers could render these mothers in solving some of their problems.

Using schedule forms especially prepared for this study, information relating to problems in family foods and nutrition was personally collected from 32 mothers, and by mail from 32 mothers. None of the respondents had children who had reached the eighteenth birthday. Study of the data obtained on the schedule forms showed that the mothers who participated in this investigation were generally poor managers of time, energy, and available resources, had inadequate knowledge of nutrition, and failed to exercise desirable kitchen and shopping practices.

The investigator recommends that homemaking teachers (1) emphasize experiences which lead to better use of time, energy, and available resources and (2) consider possible ways and means of promoting adult education programs which will meet the needs of the dual-role mothers.