Home Food Research Articles

Reusam idang meulapeh in commemorating the prophet's Maulid tradition: a study in the Pidie District, Aceh Province, Indonesia

This research aims to improve the preservation of Reusam Idang Meulapeh and the symbol of the Idang Meulapeh reusam tradition in commemorating the Prophet's maulid in the Pidie region. The research used a qualitative descriptive method. Data sources were obtained in the form of primary data and secondary data. Data collection techniques were carried out by observation, interview, and verification or conclusion drawing. The population in this study was the people of Pidie. The sampling technique was carried out in 5 villages in the Pidie area totaling 25 people, including 5 people from Pangge Pilok village, 5 people from Mesjid Reubee village, 5 people from Neulop village, 5 people from Keude Keulibeut village and 5 people from Kampong Pukat. The results of the study that the implementation of the Nadi maulid tradition in the Pidie region for 3 months a year and the process of the maulid implementation tradition with several stages including preparation of idang meulapeh, meudikee and Islamic preaching at night. The tradition of the Prophet's Maulid is carried out in the month of 12 Rabiul Awal to the beginning of the month of Jumadil Akhir. A unique tradition at the time of commemorating the Prophet's maulid, the local community serves a variety of traditional culinary delights. One of them is Idang Meulapeh, which is a mandatory tradition in every Prophet's meulod khanduri. For the people of Pidie, the celebration of the Prophet's birthday without Idang Meulapeh is incomplete, because Idang Meulapeh is one of the special traditions in commemorating the Prophet's birthday. From the preparation of food in people's homes called Bu Kulah (rice wrapped in leaves), Idang Meulapeuh (a storied dish) will be brought to Meunasah / Mosque around 11:00 to eat together with residents, orphans and guests of other village and Mukim neighbors. Before eating the food that is served, the community first prays to our king the prophet Muhammad SAW. Idang meulapeh is also a fairly expensive dish, with that not all circles this reusam can be done. Only some areas in Aceh still apply the idang meulapeh tradition. For this reason, this research is very important to preserve the Idang Meulapeh reusam tradition in commemorating maulid in the Pidie region. Therefore, the purpose of the community in providing various kinds of food menus in Idang Meulapeh and honoring the birth month of the Prophet Muhammad SAW.

Lunchbox shaming: recollections of school lunchtime by young Canadians of Asian descent

ABSTRACT Children’s home-packed lunches to school reflect family’s culinary cultures, social locations, and unique food norms. At Canadian elementary schools, children of Asian heritage sometimes experience “lunchbox shaming” – feeling embarrassed for bringing foods that are seen deviant from dominant food norms. This study explored the recollections of school lunchtime by 25 young adults (aged 17–25 years) from three largest Asian ethnocultural groups (Chinese, Indian, and Filipino) in Toronto, Canada. Two parents of the participants also joined follow-up interviews to provide their insights. Our analysis focused on four layers of meanings at micro-level (personal experiences and emotions), meso-level (family food practices, school food environment), macro-level (socio-historical discourses), and interactional-level (researchers’ positionalities). Many participants recalled painful experiences being teased by classmates of their “stinky” lunch, throwing away homemade lunches, or asking parents to pack “normal” lunches to fit in. Conversely, a few shared positive memories of their lunches being praised and felt proud of their culinary heritage. Many reportedly felt a need to balance affiliation to both their home and school food cultures while growing up in Canada. We conclude by discussing the implications of the study findings for the ongoing debate on Canada’s national school food program and food literacy education.

Assessing Business Empowerment Program Effectiveness: Dolago Padang's Women Farmer Group Study

This research evaluates the implementation of an economic empowerment program through the Women Farmer Group (WFG) using sustainable home food yard activities (P2L) supported by the Food Security Agency - Ministry of Agriculture. The program aims to enhance economic empowerment in priority areas, addressing stunting and vulnerable food-insecure regions while promoting food resilience. The study measures the effectiveness of the program implemented through the WFG and evaluates it from the perspective of Islamic economics. Adopting a field research approach with a qualitative descriptive method, primary data is collected through interviews and observations, and secondary data is obtained from the documentation. Program effectiveness is assessed using a simple statistical method, dividing realized program activities by the set targets. Analysis of effectiveness indicators is based on interview findings. The research measures program effectiveness through data reduction, presentation, and conclusion-drawing techniques. The results show that the WFG program in Dolago Padang Village fulfills two effectiveness indicators: target accuracy and program objectives. From the perspective of Islamic economics, the program aligns with principles of justice, responsibility, social security (Takaful), and economic empowerment by the principle of Palawan. However, the program needs to meet the remaining four effectiveness indicators. The study recommends strengthening program awareness and monitoring for future implementation. It emphasizes that achieving program success is a shared responsibility between the government and the community, requiring the fulfillment of effective measurement criteria.

PRODUCT INNOVATION EXPANSION FOR MSME GROUPS IN BANTARJAYA VILLAGE RANCABUNGUR - BOGOR

Currently, MSMEs spread across Bantarjaya Village are a reference in producing processed snacks. Like, dodol, rangginang, and other pastries, in the home food product industry. Trading services are of course very important so that society continues to develop in a better direction. However, until now his team together with all the human resources of the Bantarjaya village government have continued to struggle to achieve unfinished work programs. Business continuity is a non-static phenomenon due to several reasons such as global climate conditions, scarce resources, insecure and competitive global scenarios, imminent population increase, political instability, economic crises, and innovative new technologies in the world. The main problem of a small industry is not only to achieve a stable high level of performance but also to maintain a position in the market while competing with all the unexpected challenges that will come. the situation in Bantarjaya Village, several problems can be formulated as obstacles. These problems include how to create innovations related to product distribution patterns that experience difficulties in production and increase sales volume. Efforts to create innovations related to product distribution patterns that experience difficulties in production and increase sales volume. this needs to be done by providing knowledge and skills in applying pilot-based marketing management methods to increase revenue. And support coaching motivation and managerial and entrepreneurial skills.

INCREASE THE POTENTIAL OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT TO EXPAND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PARTIES

The main problem of a small industry is not only to achieve a stable high level of performance but also to maintain a position in the market while competing with all the unexpected challenges that will come. In the situation in Bantarjaya Village, several problems can be formulated as obstacles. These problems include how to create innovations related to product distribution patterns that experience difficulties in production and increase sales volume. Efforts to create innovations related to product distribution patterns that experience difficulties in production and increase sales volume. this needs to be done by providing knowledge and skills in applying pilot-based marketing management methods to increase revenue. And support coaching motivation and managerial and entrepreneurial skills. Currently, MSMEs spread across Bantarjaya Village are a reference in producing processed snacks. Like, dodol, rangginang, and other pastries, in the home food product industry. Trading services are of course very important so that society continues to develop in a better direction. However, until now his team together with all the human resources of the Bantarjaya village government have continued to struggle to achieve unfinished work programs. Business continuity is a non-static phenomenon due to several reasons such as global climate conditions, scarce resources, insecure and competitive global scenarios, imminent population increase, political instability, economic crises, and innovative new technologies in the world.

STRENGTHENING LEADERSHIP PATTERNS FOR THE MSME GROUP’S SUSTAINABLE AT BANTARJAYA-RANCABUNGUR-BOGOR

The classic problems faced by MSMEs are internal problems, namely the low professionalism of MSME management staff, limited capital and lack of access to banking and markets, as well as the ability to master technology which is still lacking. The main problem of a small industry is not only to achieve a stable high level of performance but also to maintain a position in the market while competing with all the unexpected challenges that will come. the situation in Bantarjaya Village, several problems can be formulated as obstacles. These problems include how to create innovations related to product distribution patterns that experience difficulties in production and increase sales volume. Efforts to create innovations related to product distribution patterns that experience difficulties in production and increase sales volume. this needs to be done by providing knowledge and skills in applying pilot-based marketing management methods to increase revenue. And support coaching motivation and managerial and entrepreneurial skills. MSMEs spread across Bantarjaya Village are a reference in producing processed snacks. Like, dodol, rangginang, and other pastries, in the home food product industry. Trading services are of course very important so that society continues to develop in a better direction. However, until now his team together with all the human resources of the Bantarjaya village government have continued to struggle to achieve unfinished work programs.

Kelimpahan Jenis Tanaman Pangan Pada Pekarangan Rumah Penduduk Di Desa Mandikapau Barat, Kecamatan Karang Intan, Kabupaten Banjar

The yard plays an important role in meeting the needs of the community, namely by planting in the yard of the house, especially to meet the needs of the household, especially in meeting the needs of the family's home food, can be planted with food crops such as fruit, vegetables, tubers, spices, etc. The aim of the research was to study the types of food plants found and to know the abundance index and dominance index of food plants found in Mandikapau Barat Village. The method of this research is to determine the area of the yard, take samples of the yard, identify the types of food plant categories (fruits, vegetables, tubers, and spices), and calculate the abundance index and dominance index of these food plants. Results Food plants found totaled 25 families 32 genera 40 species (27 fruits; 5 vegetables; 2 tubers; 6 spices). The highest relative abundance index of the three locations was in the category of spices, bulbs, fruits, vegetables with a value of (28%; 6%; 5%; 4%) with galangal, cassava, papaya and cayenne pepper plants. The average dominance index shows a value of 0.131 which is included in the low category.KEYWORDS: Mandikapau; Kabupaten Banjar; food plant; dominance index

Modeling the intention and adoption of food waste prevention practices among Chinese households

Considerable attention has been paid to the problem of food waste on a worldwide scale. Evidence demonstrates that food waste occurs mostly in private households, and that home food waste has been identified as the leading cause of global food waste. Home food waste poses a severe threat to food security and involves environmental and financial ramifications. While this is a global issue, most studies on what motivates people to make changes that would result in less food waste have been conducted in wealthy countries. Integrating the Theory of Interpersonal Behavior (TIB), this study fills this gap by investigating the factors influencing Chinese household consumers’ intentions toward food waste reduction and their actual food waste behavior. This study used a cross-sectional survey approach to collect data from households using social media platforms. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was adopted to assess and evaluate the conceptual model. The empirical findings demonstrate that cognitive (perceived value of sustainability), environmental (awareness of consequences and ascription of responsibility), social (social norms), and emotional (anticipated guilt) aspects tend to have a positive influence on Chinese household consumers’ intentions toward reducing food waste, suggesting that interpersonal behavior could reduce food consumption in developing countries like China. Furthermore, the findings show that the intention to decrease food waste serves as an intermediary variable that highlights another route of association between the TIB factors and actual food waste reduction behavior. The findings will be more informative to policymakers, marketers, and researchers in developing strategies to reduce food waste.

Associations between parent-adolescent health-related conversations and mealtime media use among Hispanic families.

Whereas parents play an important role in shaping the home environment, it is unknown whether health-related parent-adolescent conversations may be associated with different health-promoting parenting practices, such as limiting adolescent mealtime media use in Hispanic families. For this cross-sectional analysis, Hispanic parents (n = 344; 40.4 ± 6.6 years; 89.2% female) of sixth- to eighth-grade adolescents self-reported the frequency of having health- or weight-related conversations with their adolescent child, and the frequency of adolescent mealtime media device use. Spearman's rank correlations were used to assess whether parent-adolescent health-related conversations are associated with mealtime media device use by adolescents. Over 75% of parents reported having conversations about healthy eating and being physically active at least a few times per week. Fewer parents reported having frequent weight-related conversations. Frequency of mealtime media use was low, except for television/movie watching (only 30% of parents reported their child rarely/never watching television during family meals). Having conversations related to the adolescent weighing too much was correlated with the mealtime use of television (r = .207; p < .001), cellphones (r = .134; p = .018), and headphones for music listening (r = .145; p = .010). Conversations about exercising to lose weight were correlated with television/movie watching during mealtimes (r = .129; p = .035). Findings suggest the co-occurrence of less health-promoting parenting behaviors, such as focusing on weight-related conversations and allowing the use of media devices during mealtimes. Focusing on health- rather than weight-related parent-adolescent conversations and implementing mealtime media use rules may have the potential to shape a home food environment which ultimately could improve an adolescent's overall health outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Feeding a tourism boom: changing food practices and systems of provision in Hoi An, Vietnam

ABSTRACT While food studies have increasingly gone beyond the “Western” experience in food globalization processes, research on food and tourism has often prioritized the (Western) tourist’s gaze. In the literature on food and tourism in Asia, little attention has been given to the experiences of host populations. Responding to this lacuna in the literature, this paper analyses how a tourism boom is fed and how tourism-driven “foodway encounters” shape food practices and systems of provision. Focusing on the major tourism transformations seen in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An, Vietnam, over the past decades, we study how hosts approach tourists’ demand for both comfort food from home and new food experiences that are simultaneously “authentic” and safe. We analyze how both Vietnamese and foreign hosts seek to understand, influence and adapt to the culinary preferences of visitors, and how they develop the necessary skills to do so. Furthermore, since feeding tourists often requires a wide range of food traditionally unavailable or uncommon in Hoi An, we analyze how hosts acquire the ingredients necessary for changing food practices and how systems of provision both shape and take shape through the process of catering to the particularities of touristy foodways.

Race/Ethnicity Modifies the Relationship Between Diet Quality at the Home- and Individual-Levels and Weight Status Among African American and Hispanic/Latinx Households With Preschool-Age Children.

Background: Higher obesity prevalence and poorer diet quality disproportionately impacting groups based on income and race/ethnicity may be partially attributed to the home food environment. This study examined home- and individual-level diet quality with weight status among racially/ethnically diverse households. Methods: This cross-sectional study included African American (AA) and Hispanic/Latinx (H/L) households with preschool-age children (n = 97). Home-level diet quality was based on comprehensive home food inventories and individual-level diet quality was based on 24-hour dietary recalls; scores were estimated with the Healthy Eating Index. Child and adult appropriate weight categories based on BMI were estimated with measured heights and weights. Multiple linear regression models (independent variable: weight status, outcome: diet quality scores) with an interaction term for weight status and race/ethnicity and adjusting for potential confounding factors were used to estimate adjusted mean diet quality scores. Postestimation pairwise comparisons of these scores were used to look for within and between group differences by weight status and race/ethnicity. Results: Home-level diet quality scores were significantly higher among H/L households compared to AA counterparts regardless of weight status. AA parents with BMI <30 and AA children with BMI <85th percentile had poorer individual-level diet quality scores compared to AA parents and children of lower weight status and all H/L parents and children. Conclusions: These findings offer evidence that race/ethnicity modifies the relationship between diet quality and weight among AA and H/L households. Future research needs to examine the distinctive ways race/ethnicity shapes the relationship between weight and diet quality in these households.

The effectiveness of group-based, parent-only weight management interventions for children and the factors associated with outcomes: a systematic review.

Obesity in Childhood is a significant public health issue, which requires both a preventative and treatment approach. International guidelines continue to recommend family-focused, multicomponent, childhood weight management programmes and many studies have investigated their effectiveness, however, findings have been mixed and primarily based on weight. Thus, the aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of group-based parent-only interventions on a broad range of child health-related outcomes and to investigate the factors associated with intervention outcomes. An electronic database search was conducted using CINAHL, Medline, PsychINFO, Embase and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: 522 articles were identified for full text review and 15 studies were selected. The quality of studies were appraised and data were synthesised according to the review aims. Parent-only group interventions are effective in changing children's weight status, as well as other outcomes such as health behaviours and self-esteem, although these were reported inconsistently. Parent-only interventions were generally found to be similar to parent-child interventions, and minimal contact interventions but better than a waiting list control. Factors found to be associated with treatment outcomes, included session attendance, the child's age and weight at baseline, socioeconomic status of families and modification to the home food environment. The methodological quality of the studies included in the review was low, with only six studies rated to be methodologically adequate. Parent-only interventions may be an effective treatment for improving the health status of children and their families, particularly when compared with waitlist controls. However, results need to be interpreted with caution due to the low quality of the studies and the high rates of non-completion.

Evolution of Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES) Index Trigger Foods and Subsequent Reactions After Initial Diagnosis.

Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a non-IgE-mediated food allergy treated by trigger food avoidance and supportive care. Whether the prevalence of different trigger foods is changing with evolving food introduction patterns is unknown. The rate and nature of subsequent reactions after initial diagnosis have not been fully studied. We sought to characterize how trigger foods have changed over time and investigate the nature of subsequent reactions after initial diagnosis. We collected data regarding patients' FPIES reactions from 347 patients seen in the University of Michigan Allergy and Immunology clinic for FPIES from 2010 to 2022. Inclusion criteria consisted of pediatric patients diagnosed with FPIES by an allergist based on international consensus guidelines. Most foods including less commonly cited FPIES triggers increased in frequency over time. The most common index trigger was oat. A total of 32.9% (114 of 347) patients experienced a subsequent reaction after education on trigger avoidance and safe home introduction of new foods, with 34.2% (41 of 120) of subsequent reactions to new triggers at home and 45% (54 of 120) to known triggers at home. Of patients reacting subsequently, 28% (32 of 114) experienced a subsequent reaction necessitating an emergency department visit. The most common new subsequent reaction triggers were egg and potato, whereas peanut most commonly triggered reactions on oral food challenge. The risk profile of FPIES triggers may be evolving over time, though high-risk FPIES foods remain common. The subsequent reaction rate after counseling indicates that home food introduction poses risk. This study highlights the need for improved safety of new food introduction and/or prediction methods for FPIES to help prevent potentially dangerous home FPIES reactions.

Longitudinal changes in home food availability across the first 3 years of life and associations with family context predictors.

There is limited research tracking changes in home food availability during the first 3 years of life and whether the family context influences these changes. This study examined changes in and predictors of home food availability across the first 3 years of life. This study utilized longitudinal data from the STRONG Kids2 birth cohort from the target child at 6 weeks to 36 months postpartum. Mothers of 468 children were surveyed at 6 weeks, 3, 12, 24, and 36 months postpartum. Home observations were completed by trained research assistants to complete the presence of foods in the home. The primary outcomes were the availability of 10 food groups and scores from the Home Food Inventory (HFI), including dairy (regular fat), dairy (reduced fat), processed meats, other meats and non-dairy protein, savory snacks, vegetables, vegetables (no potatoes), and three obesogenic scores. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to examine changes in the HFI food groups and obesogenic scores over time. Multilevel regressions were conducted to examine whether the presence of an older sibling, entry into childcare, and mother's return to full-time work were associated with the HFI. Significant changes were detected for dairy (regular fat), other meats and non-dairy protein, savory snacks, vegetables, vegetables (no potatoes), and all obesogenic scores across time. A linear trend occurred for most HFI groups, however, the third obesogenic score (without milk and cheese) was highest at 3 months, declined at 12 months, and then slowly increased from 12 to 36 months years. The presence of an older sibling was a consistent predictor of the HFI groups over time. Entry into childcare was only associated with the availability of processed meats. The availability of food types shift as children age and their dietary needs alter. It is important to consider the whole family context such as the presence of older siblings whose dietary needs may differ from younger children. Future efforts are warranted to consider changes in food availability among diverse samples and different family structures.

Feasibility of a food-based diabetes self-management education intervention for food insecure patients with type 2 diabetes: a convergent mixed methods study.

To assess the feasibility of a food-based diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) intervention delivered to persons with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and food insecurity. This single arm pre-/post convergent mixed methods study tested the feasibility of a 3-month intervention using food boxes, recipes, DSMES and dietitian visits. Feasibility benchmarks assessed were acceptability (> 50 % participants satisfied), demand (> 50 % used program components) and implementation (75 % adherence, 80 % retention). Assessments included: self-reported food security, health-related quality of life, diabetes self-efficacy, socio-demographic and dietary intake, height, weight, and HbA1c and one in-depth interview with participants and key staff. Enrollment, recruitment and retention rates were summarised; qualitative data were analysed using structured thematic analysis (participant interviews) and key point summaries (staff interviews). Quantitative/qualitative data integration was conducted using a joint display. Food bank and Federally Qualified Health Center in the Southwestern U.S. English- or Spanish-speaking adults with T2DM and food insecurity. In total, 247 patients with T2DM and food insecurity were recruited, seventy-one expressed interest and twenty-five consented. Twenty-one participants completed study measurements. 71 % (n 15) received six home food deliveries and ≥ 1 dietitian visit. A priori benchmarks were approached or met within each feasibility criterion - most participants found the intervention to be acceptable, used most or all intervention components, and reported some challenges within intervention implementation (e.g. timing of food deliveries). Data integration provided deeper understanding of reported intervention implementation challenges, yet high adherence to the intervention. The intervention was feasible. Next steps include a clinical trial to establish intervention efficacy.

The impact of calorie labelling and proportional pricing on out of home food orders: a randomised controlled trial study using a virtual food and drink delivery app

BackgroundMandatory calorie labelling in the out-of-home food sector was introduced in England in 2022, and menu pricing strategies that ensure cost is equivalent to portion size (proportional pricing) have been proposed as a policy to reduce obesity. Food delivery app-based platforms now contribute significantly to diet, and evidence suggests that those at a socioeconomic disadvantage may have greater exposure to unhealthy options on these platforms. However, public health policies to improve nutritional quality of food ordered from food delivery apps has received limited examination.ObjectiveThis experimental study assessed the impact of calorie labelling and proportional pricing on item and meal size selection, calories ordered, and money spent when selecting food and drinks from three outlet types on a virtual delivery app.MethodsUK adult participants (N = 1126, 49% female), stratified by gender and education level completed an online study where they ordered items from three branded food and beverage outlets (coffee shop, sandwich outlet, fast food outlet) using a virtual delivery app. Participants were presented food and beverage options with vs. without calorie labels and with value (larger portions are proportionally cheaper) vs. proportional pricing.ResultsCalorie labelling did not influence portion size selection for any outlets, but significantly reduced calories ordered from the coffee shop (-18.95kcals, 95% CI -33.07 to -4.84) and fast food outlet (-54.19kcals, 95% CI -86.04 to -22.33). Proportional pricing reduced the likelihood of choosing a larger beverage from the coffee shop (OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.75), but was associated with increased calories ordered from the fast food outlet (51.25kcals, 95% CI 19.59 to 82.90). No consistent interactions were observed with participant characteristics, suggesting that effects of calorie labelling and pricing on outcomes were similar across sociodemographic groups.ConclusionsCalorie labelling on food delivery platforms may effectively reduce calories ordered. Proportional pricing may be useful in prompting consumers to select smaller portion sizes, although further research in real-world settings will now be valuable.

“I guess it's quite trendy”: A qualitative insight into young meat-eaters’ sustainable food consumption habits and perceptions towards current and future protein alternatives

As the market for sustainable food continues to expand, there is a need to understand how consumers’ consumption habits and perceptions are changing. Targeting the younger populations is of interest as they arguably will shape the future of food. Therefore, the present study aimed to provide in-depth consumer insights on a range of topics from current consumption habits (i.e., meat reduction, plant-based meat/seafood (PBM/S)), towards future protein alternatives (i.e., cell-based meat/seafood (CBM/S), precision fermented dairy (PFD)). Online focus groups were conducted in the UK with meat-eaters (n = 38) aged 18–34. Codebook thematic analysis was applied using the Framework Matrix as a tool for data analysis. Key themes were presented using the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation), which identified areas of behavioural change. Results found a trend towards meat reduction, partially initiated by moving away from home and limited food budgets. Overall, participants acknowledged the environmental impact of food, but a notable knowledge gap was apparent when quantifying the effect, especially for dairy and seafood. Compared to PBM, few participants had tried PBS products, partially due to lower availability and familiarity. Enablers for PBM/S included convenience, positive sensory experiences and the influence of others, whilst barriers related to negative health connotations and over-processing. For CBM/S and PFD, animal welfare, curiosity and optimised nutrition acted as enablers, whilst barriers related to wider consumer acceptance, affordability and unnaturalness. In general, participants felt changing food consumption habits can have an impact on climate change and were optimistic about novel technologies supporting future protein transitions. Increasing public understanding around the environmental impact of food, especially seafood and dairy, and prioritising the affordability of sustainable food are suggested as intervention strategies to encourage sustainable food consumption.

The Association between Food Security Status and the Home Food Environment among a Sample of Rural South Carolina Residents.

Prior research suggests that food security status may have an effect on the home food environment. Further, the literature suggests that food access factors may function to influence said relationship. The purpose of this research is to fill a gap in the literature on this relationship, as well as to identify potential food access effect modifiers. This research employs linear mixed effects modeling with a random intercept variable (zip codes). Eleven food access variables are included in regression analyses and are tested as potential effect modifiers in the association between food security status and the home food environment. Food security status is significantly associated with the home food environment (95% CI = 0.1-1.38) in the unadjusted model. In the adjusted model, food pantry usage is found to be a significant effect modifier on the association between food security status and the home food environment. This research concludes that food security status has a significant but disparate effect on the home food environment depending on participant food pantry usage. Practical implications from this research would be for relevant stakeholders to potentially improve rural food pantry access in order to increase the home food environment among rural and food insecure populations.

The Development and Potential of a Digital out of Home Food Environment Monitoring Platform.

The rapidly growing field of digital meal delivery platforms has transformed the out of home (OOH) food environment, presenting both opportunities and challenges for public health. This paper introduces the development and potential of a novel digital platform designed for monitoring the OOH food environment. Drawing on publicly available data from meal delivery applications, this platform provides valuable insights into the landscape of digital food offerings, such as the most common restaurants per region, average caloric content per meal type, and energy value per monetary unit. This research addresses the current void in regulations for this digital environment, particularly around food labeling and provision of nutrition information. Even though the platform has significantly improved our understanding of the digital food ecosystem, it highlights gaps, primarily due to the lack of publicly available individual data and inconsistencies in provided information. Despite these challenges, the proposed digital platform holds considerable promise for better understanding the digital food environment, supporting healthier food choices, and informing future policy interventions aimed at regulating the online food environment. This research advocates for mandatory regulations in the digital food sector to ensure comprehensive, comparable, and transparent nutrition information and equality in access to nutritious foods.

Perceptions on Healthy Eating Impact the Home Food Environment: A Qualitative Exploration of Perceptions of Indigenous Food Gatekeepers in Urban Fiji.

The home food environment (HFE) can have important direct and indirect impacts on dietary practices. Nutrient transitions in the HFE of Pacific Island countries (PICs) are key contributors of the high rates of adult and childhood overweight and obesity in the region. Pacifica mothers are important sociocultural agents who play critical roles in their HFE through setting eating-appropriateness standards and mitigating the impacts of food availability and accessibility on the HFE. This study used an interpretative phenomenological approach to explore how urban indigenous Fijian mothers perceive healthy eating and how these perceptions impacted the food decisions they made for their families. Mothers in this study held complex, multifaceted perceptions on healthy eating and these perceptions had both positive and negative impacts on the family food choices they made, the strategies they adopted for healthy eating and their perceived motivators for healthy eating. The findings of this study underscore the need for a deeper understanding and analysis of uptake of public health messaging related to healthy and unhealthy eating and the importance of targeted promotion of healthful nutrition in this community. Promoting consumption of traditional and locally grown foods can enhance nutrition and food security and combat nutrition transition in the region.