Meal Nutrition Research Articles

Good Demand-Supply Matching Practices as A Key to The Efficiency and Effectiveness of Free Nutritional Meal Programs: Leveraging Diverse Supply Sources to Maximize Government Expenditure Value

The free nutritious food program initiated by President-elect Prabowo and his cabinet aims to improve the quality of life of Indonesians, especially vulnerable groups. Various factors, including good demand and supply matching practices, largely determine the success of this program. The objective of this research is to analyze the best strategies and techniques for matching demand and supply, as well as for effective inventory management for this program. The research method used is qualitative, with data collection through literature study. After collecting the data, the analysis is done through several stages: filtering, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results show that good inventory management and supply-demand matching are key factors for the success of this program. Some strategies and techniques identified include careful planning, robust information systems, efficient supply chain management, good inventory management techniques, and diversification of supply sources. Diversifying supply sources helps the government reduce costs, improve food quality, support local economies, and strengthen national food security. By implementing these strategies, the government can ensure that the free nutritious food program can run efficiently and effectively and provide optimal benefits to the wider community.

Impact of school closure during COVID-19 pandemic on school-going children in a rural population of Haryana: A qualitative study

ABSTRACT Background: The Government of India undertook several measures for COVID-19 pandemic, of which school closure was one. This led to sudden shift of teaching methods from classroom-based to online mode. This study aimed to understand the effects of school closure on children during lockdown period. Methods: This was a community-based qualitative study conducted in Faridabad District, Haryana, India, from January 2022 to February 2022. Two focus group discussions (FGDs) with school students of 8th standard and above and two FGDs with parents of school students below 8th standard were conducted. In-depth interviews were conducted with two school headmasters, two teachers, a Senior Medical Officer (SMO), District Education Officer (DEO), and District Elementary Education Officer (DEEO). Responses were recorded, transcribed, and reviewed to identify themes, and thematic analysis was done. Four major themes were framed—academic, physical, behavioral, and psychosocial. Results: Decreased academic performance, teacher-student interaction, and distraction from the study were found in academic domain. There was reluctance to go back to school reopening. Low physical exercise, irregular sleep cycles meal skipping, and increased screen time were noticed. Limited mid-day meal nutrition was available. Increased fear, anxiety, and loneliness were faced along with an increase in household quarrels and violence. An increase in the number of child marriages was also reported. Few students had positive impacts like improvement in hygiene practices, learning new hobbies, and skills. Conclusion: School closure had impact on the physical, mental, socio-behavioral, and academic aspects of school-going children. In case of similar events in the future, these impacts must be kept in mind by policymakers to achieve a balance between effective pandemic control and fruitful childhoods.

Exploring the Cross-Sectional Relationship Between Implementation Supports for Adopting Nutrition Standards and the Nutritional Quality of School Lunches Served

BackgroundThe evidence-based nutrition standards of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 significantly improved school meal nutrition, yet little is known about how school food authorities (SFAs) were supported to translate the standards into practice in schools. ObjectiveThis study tested whether or not 2 implementation supports, SFA receipt of training/technical assistance (TA) and purchase of new equipment, for implementing the nutrition standards were associated with the nutritional quality of school lunches. DesignThis study used a cross-sectional design. Participants/settingThe study sample included 365 SFAs derived from the US Department of Agriculture’s School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study (2014 to 2015 school year), the only national data of school nutrition environments since the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Main outcome measuresImplementation supports included reported participation in training/TA and the purchase of new equipment between the 2012 to 2013 (year of policy adoption) and 2014 to 2015 school years. The primary outcome, nutritional quality of school lunches served, was defined as low/high Healthy Eating Index 2010 scores during the 2014 to 2015 school year. Secondary implementation supports included the number of areas covered by training/TA, the adequacy of training/TA, and the degree of implementation challenges. Statistical analysesMultivariable-adjusted logistic regression models assessed if receipt of implementation supports was associated with lunch Healthy Eating Index 2010 scores. ResultsThe median lunch Healthy Eating Index 2010 score was 81.7 (95% CI 80.4 to 82.9). Most SFAs (78.4%, 95% CI 72.0% to 85.0%) reported having participated in training/TA and one-third (33.8%, 95% CI 24.4% to 43.2%) reported having purchased new equipment—neither were associated with the odds of having higher Healthy Eating Index 2010 scores for lunches served at the time of data collection. ConclusionsMany SFAs accessed implementation supports to adopt the nutrition standards. Information on dose, quality, and nutrition-related impact of implementation supports using measures of change are needed to determine how best to support SFAs with implementation of new nutrition standards.

THE SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME STRATEGIES AND LEARNER PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN MAKUENI COUNTY, KENYA

Objective: This paper sought to determine how school feeding programme strategies influence learner participation in public primary schools in Makueni County, Kenya. Theoretical Framework: The study was anchored on; Social Learning Theory, Abraham Maslow’s Theory of Human Motivation and theory of Change. Method: Descriptive and correlation research design were employed. The target population was 875 respondents. Data was analyzed using descriptive, and inferential statistics. Results and Discussion: The findings were; there is no significant relationship between giving nutritious meals and learner participation was rejected from learners’ view but was not rejected as per the Headteachers, Teachers and Chairpersons board of governors’ view, there is no significant relationship among dietary teaching and learner participation was rejected from learners’ view but was not rejected as per the Headteachers, Teachers and Chairpersons board of governors’, there is no significant relationship between regular food supply during school days and learner participation was rejected from learners’ view but was not rejected as per the Headteachers, Teachers and Chairpersons board of governors’ view, there is no significant relationship between small-scale farmers’ engagement and learner participation was not rejected from learners’ view but was rejected as per the Headteachers, Teachers and Chairpersons board of governors’ views. Research Implications: The study found that learner participation within the study's territory was significantly correlated with the approaches used. The study recommends that Government Ministries of Education, Health and relevant Authorities, Head Teachers, Teachers, Chairpersons -BOM need to provide nutrition meals and dedicate adequate resources to sustain learner participation in Public Primary Schools in Makueni County, Kenya.

HUBUNGAN ASUPAN PROTEIN DENGAN STATUS GIZI PADA REMAJA PUTRI DI PONDOK PESANTREN, KABUPATEN TUBAN

Introduction : Nutritional problems are health problems that can occur at all ages. Adolescents are one of the groups that easily experience nutritional problems. Nutritional status is a description of the body's condition as a result of the utilization of nutrients from food consumed daily. One of the nutrients, protein, is an important nutrient for growth, repair, maintenance of body tissues and maintaining physiological balance. The aim of this research was to investigate the correlation between protein consumption and nutritional status among teenage girls. Method: This was an analytic research with a cross sectional approach. The sample of this study was 200 female students of islamic boarding school, aged 15-19 years old. Independent variable of protein intake was collected using Recall-24 hour method, dependent variable of nutritional status was measured based on IMT/U indicator, and analyzed statistically with spearman correlation. Result: The results of spearman correlation test showed a p-value=0.000 for the relationship between protein intake and the nutritional status of adolescent girls, there was a tendency for respondents with more protein intake to overweight, while respondents with normal protein intake have normal nutritional status. Conclusion: Protein intake affects nutritional status, the higher the protein intake, the higher the risk of overweight. Suggestions for further research could involve studying the improvement of knowledge and skills of pesantren administrators in preparing balanced nutritional meals for students.

Learning enhances representations of taste-guided decisions in the mouse gustatory insular cortex

Learning to discriminate overlapping gustatory stimuli that predict distinct outcomes-a feat known as discrimination learning-can mean the difference between ingesting a poison or a nutritive meal. Despite the obvious importance of this process, very little is known about the neural basis of taste discrimination learning. In other sensory modalities, this form of learning can be mediated by either the sharpening of sensory representations or the enhanced ability of "decision-making" circuits to interpret sensory information. Given the dual role of the gustatory insular cortex (GC) in encoding both sensory and decision-related variables, this region represents an ideal site for investigating how neural activity changes as animals learn a novel taste discrimination. Here, we present results from experiments relying on two-photon calcium imaging of GC neural activity in mice performing a taste-guided mixture discrimination task. The task allows for the recording of neural activity before and after learning induced by training mice to discriminate increasingly similar pairs of taste mixtures. Single-neuron and population analyses show a time-varying pattern of activity, with early sensory responses emerging after taste delivery and binary, choice-encoding responses emerging later in the delay before a decision is made. Our results demonstrate that, while both sensory and decision-related information is encoded by GC in the context of a taste mixture discrimination task, learning and improved performance are associated with a specific enhancement of decision-related responses.

Participant Assessment of an Alternative Flexible Congregate Nutrition Meal Program for Older Adults

Congregate Nutrition Services have long been a pillar of public health assistance, championing the independence and community engagement of older Americans. The advent of COVID-19, however, restricted access to these services due to the closure of physical locations. In response, Lanakila Meals on Wheels initiated a virtual congregate meal program, Kūpuna U, in collaboration with community partners in Honolulu County. The program combined grab-and-go or home-delivered meals with virtual and in-person classes to improve both nutrition and socialization for older adults. This study aimed to capture participant feedback to assess and enhance the Kūpuna U program, developing it as a flexible and scalable congregate meal solution applicable nationwide. Five focus group discussions were conducted with program participants (n = 34). The majority of participants were female (74%), Asian (73%), and living alone (56%). Participants found the program beneficial, enhancing their nutrition, social engagement, and learning experiences on various topics tailored for older adults. Supportive staff played a crucial role in motivating participants to stay engaged. Participants also identified potential enhancements to the program, including more activities and courses, expanded hours, additional in-person options at various locations, and culturally tailored meals.

School Meal Nutrition Standards Reduce Disparities Across Income and Race/Ethnicity

Children's diets in the U.S. typically fail to meet dietary recommendations, contributing to associated adverse health outcomes. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010 required the U.S. government to update nutrition standards for school meals to align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). This study estimates the evolving impact of substituting school-prepared food for home-prepared food on overall daily diet quality and by subcomponents of diet quality. Subgroup analyses are performed by race/ethnicity and income. Two, nonconsecutive days of dietary recall data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-March 2020) are used to calculate schoolchildren's Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2020 scores. The study includes children with complete two-day dietary intakes who attend kindergarten through twelfth grade in a school offering lunch. An individual-level fixed effects regression is employed to examine the relationship of school food consumption on HEI-2020 scores before and after HHFKA-mandated changes in nutrition standards. Analyses were conducted on September 23, 2023. Prior to changes in standards (2005-2008), school food did not impact diet quality within the overall group of children. In 2009-2012, positive associations between school food and diet quality emerged for low-income students and for non-Hispanic Black students. By 2013-2020, improvements were seen across all groups. The association between school food and diet quality was most attributable to more favorable consumption of dairy, fruit, whole grains, refined grains, added sugars and saturated fats. HHFKA-based nutrition standards were associated with beneficial dietary changes and reduced dietary disparities for children across diverse backgrounds.

The Application of Multi-objective Optimization Algorithm in Diabetic Nutrition Meal Planning

The Application of Multi-objective Optimization Algorithm in Diabetic Nutrition Meal Planning

Analysis of public perception of national obesity management policy.

This study aimed to provide essential data necessary for shaping future obesity policy directions and strengthening the effectiveness of such measures. A literature review and expert meetings were conducted to identify policy objectives that should be included in the comprehensive national obesity management plan. Based on these objectives, a questionnaire was developed, and a survey was conducted nationwide through an online panel targeting citizens aged 15-69. When analyzing the appropriateness of promoting national obesity policies, 38.6% of respondents answered "not appropriate," while only 8.4% answered "appropriate." We also assessed the importance of the four key areas of the national obesity management policy, with 36.9% considering "improvement of lifestyle to prevent obesity" as the most important. Additionally, we analyzed the significance of specific tasks. "Strengthening child and adolescent obesity prevention and management," "enhancing group meal nutrition and hygiene," "strengthening the operation of community-based obesity and exercise clinics," and "advancing an integrated information platform for nutrition, dietary patterns, and physical activity" emerged as pivotal tasks within their respective areas. The primary tasks identified as top priorities by the public in this study regarding national obesity policy initiatives can be incorporated into future obesity management strategies. Our approach has the potential to enhance the efficacy of these policies by aligning future obesity policy trajectories with public demands and expectations.

Smallholder Farmers’ Engagement in School Feeding Programme and Learner Participation in Public Primary Schools in Makueni County, Kenya

The editorial board announced that this article has been retracted on August 31, 2023. If you have any further question, please contact us at: jel@ccsenet.org

Evaluation of health and economic effects of United States school meal standards consistent with the 2020–2025 dietary guidelines for Americans

BackgroundThe current school meal nutrition standards, established in 2010, are not fully aligned with the 2020–2025 Dietary Guideline for Americans (DGA). This study evaluates the potential short-term and long-term health and economic benefits of strengthening the school meal standards on added sugars, sodium, and whole grains to be aligned with current guidelines. MethodsWe used comparative risk assessment frameworks based on nationally representative data incorporating current demographics, dietary habits, and risk factors of United States children aged 5–18 y from 3 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2018). To estimate short-term impact, the model incorporated estimated dietary changes owing to potential new DGA-aligned school meal nutrition standards and the effect of these changes on childhood body mass index (in kg/m2) and blood pressure. To estimate long-term impact, the model further incorporated data on the sustainability of childhood dietary changes into adulthood, and on demographics and risk factors of United States adults, diet-disease associations, and disease-specific national mortality. ResultsIn a best-case scenario assuming full school compliance, implementing new DGA-aligned nutritional standards would lower elementary children’s BMI by an average 0.14 (95% UI: 0.08–0.20) kg/m2 and systolic blood pressure by 0.13 (95% UI: 0.06–0.19) (95% mm Hg. Later in life, the new standards were estimated to prevent 10,600 [95% uncertainty interval (UI): 4820–16,800) annual deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, and cancer in adulthood; and save 355,000 (95% UI: 175,000–538,000) disability-adjusted life years and $19.3 (95% UI: 9.35–30.3) B in direct and indirect medical costs each year. Accounting for plausible (incomplete) school compliance, implementation would save an estimated 9110 (95% UI: 2740–15,100) deaths, 302,000 (95% UI: 120,000–479,000) disability-adjusted life years, and $15.9 (95% UI: 4.54–27.2) B in healthcare-related costs per year in later adulthood. ConclusionsStronger school meal nutrition standards on added sugars, sodium, and whole grains aligned with the 2020–2025 DGA recommendations may improve diet, childhood health, and future adult burdens of CVD, diabetes, cancer, and associated economic costs.

Infrastructure, curriculum delivery and service provision improvements made by the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka in transforming education towards sustainability in the midst of economic crisis, in post-covid 19 pandemic period.

Covid-19 pandemic followed by the economic crisis that engulfed Sri Lanka (SL) has forced us to redefine strategies in transforming education towards sustainability. During and after the pandemic period, the University of Kelaniya (UOK) invested in multiple upgrades to its learning management system, server capacities, wifi access points, web-based educational resources, and development of human capital both academic and academic support. This preparedness has enabled UOK to continue academic activities in the midst of the current economic crisis in SL. Though distance learning was critical during the pandemic, university provides indispensable physical and social space. When resuming onsite learning, to enable an inclusive and conducive environment in classrooms, UOK is meeting green building ratings for its new constructions. Low-cost, on-campus student accommodations were improved in numbers, facilities, and access to differently-abled. Further, to ensure access to quality education despite the crippled economy and food scarcity, a cafeteria was converted into an energy-efficient, self-sustaining, non-profit venture that provides affordable, nutritional meals. Large scale vegetable cultivation project was initiated using compost produced as part of the solid waste management plan at the university to support the cafeteria. Simultaneously, support programs and awareness programs were conducted on managing mental health, nutritional requirements, and finances in an economic crisis. These programs were extended to the community with the support of students, facilitating education through social engagements. Last, despite budget cuts, funding for research was secured, with the hope of transforming education at UOK towards a sustainable future.

Changes in School Use of USDA Foods Program Funds Following Changes in School Meal Nutrition Standards

Changes in School Use of USDA Foods Program Funds Following Changes in School Meal Nutrition Standards

The Assessment of Daily Menus in Nursing Home Residents for Improving Intake and Nutritional Status in Elderly

Background: Malnutrition has impacted the health condition and life quality of the elderly who live in nursing homes. Unmaximized menu planning can cause this condition. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the nutrition content of the menu provided by the nursing home based on recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for older people and to identify the current nutrition status of the elderly Methods: The food intakes were evaluated by observing all menus during the five days. Nutrient contents were analyzed by calculating all meal nutrition and comparing them to the recommended dietary allowance for the elderly. Body weight was measured using Bio Impedance Analysis (BIA) Tanita, and a stadiometer measured body height. Furthermore, weight and high were measured based on body mass index calculation to measure nutritional status. Results: It was found that the mean energy content was 1242.6 ± 193.9 kcal/day, and only 69.03 ± 10.7% fulfilled the recommendation. For protein content, it only met 70.5% of the RDA. Macronutrients such as protein are only 70.5% of the recommended dietary needs for the elderly. From BMI analysis, it was found that 26.23 % of the elderly are undernutrition. Conclusions: The nutritional content of the menus served for the elderly in nursing homes did not yet meet the daily requirement and is still below that recommended for the elderly, so the nutrient of the menus should be increased to achieve optimum nutritional status.

Provision of Nutrition Meals and Learner Participation in Public Primary Schools in Makueni County, Kenya

The provision of nutrition meals has been implemented in an attempt to increase food security, reduce hunger, improve health status, increase school enrollment, and enhance learner participation. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of the provision of nutrition meals and learner participation in public primary schools in Makueni County, Kenya. This study was guided by an objective; to determine the extent to which the provision of nutrition meals influences learner participation in public primary schools in Makueni County, Kenya. Thus the study was grounded on a pragmatic paradigm that customizes both quantitative and qualitative methods of research. Descriptive survey and correlational research designs were employed. A Target population of 875 was considered which consisted of; County Education Officers, Sub County Education Officers, and Chairpersons- Board of Management, Headteachers, Teacher, and Learners in School feeding programme strategies. Yamane’s formula was applied to obtain the sample size of 275, and simple random and purposive sampling methods were employed to choose sample sizes from the population strata. Out of 66 questionnaires administered to learners in the school feeding programme in public primary schools, 58 were completed giving a return rate of 87.9%. Among 198 questionnaire given to school Headteachers, Teachers, and chairpersons-Board of management, 193 were completed, and a return rate of 97.5% was achieved. An interview guide and open ended questionnaire were employed to gather information. Null hypotheses were tested at α= 0.05 significance level and the outcomes were: There was a significant association between the provision of nutrition meals and learner participation in public primary schools in Makueni County, Kenya. Since P = 0.01<0.05 from the learners' perspective thus the study rejected the null hypothesis and concluded an association between provision of nutrition meals and learner participation in public primary schools in Makueni County, Kenya. However, there was an insignificant association between the provision of nutrition meals and learner participation in public primary schools in Makueni County, (P = 0.583 > 0.05) from head teachers, teachers and BOM chairpersons’ perspective, and hence the study failed to reject the null hypothesis thereby concluding there was no significant relationship between the provision of nutrition meals and learner participation in public primary schools in Makueni County. In view of the study outcomes and deductions, these recommendations were raised: School stakeholders, pertinent Government educational Departments, and Authorities need to improve governance and prudent management of nutrition interventions, including policy and regulations that ring-fence resources for the provision of nutrition meals to enhance learner participation in public primary schools in Makueni County, Kenya.

Higher Intakes of Nutrients are Associated with Improved Health-Related Quality of Life among Individuals with Comorbidities

There is a dearth of evidence on the association between nutrient intakes and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among populations with comorbidities. Thus, this study aimed to identify the relationships between nutrient intake and HRQOL in a Korean population with comorbidities (4,136 adults aged ≥18 years). The EuroHRQOL five-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D) and 24-hour recall methods were used to measure HRQOL and nutrient intake, respectively. Multivariable-adjusted logistic and linear regression models, marginal effects, and cutoff levels were applied to assess associations between nutrient intake and each dimension and the EQ-5D-3L index, as well as interactions of nutrient intake with comorbidities and sex for HRQOL. Interactions were identified between vitamin C, total vitamin A, potassium consumption, and sex for problems with depression and anxiety, problems with pain and discomfort, and any problem. Interactions were observed between monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and sodium intake and comorbidities for problems with mobility and self-care problems among participants with comorbidities, respectively; between vitamin B1, vitamin B3, potassium, saturated fatty acids (SFA), fat, and cholesterol intake and comorbidities for problems with pain and discomfort; and between vitamin B1, MUFA, potassium, fiber, SFA, fat, and carbohydrate intake and comorbidities for any problems. Our findings found higher nutrient intake is associated with enhanced HRQOL in the Korean adult population. More work is needed to improve QOL by quitting smoking, eating more nutritional meals, and exercising regularly.

Cotton Seed Size – What is the “Fuzz” all About?

Breeding efforts to improve lint yields in cotton may have shifted photosynthate partitioning to fibers during seed development resulting in a reduction in seed size in modern cotton cultivars. While the textile industry is the main consumer of cotton, changes in seed quality including size and composition could negatively impact other sectors of the agriculture industry that utilize cotton raw materials other than fiber. There is evidence of smaller cotton seeds impacting germination and seedling vigor as well as a reduction in oil content as seed size decreases. Moreover, downstream sectors of the cotton industry such as gins, crushers, and feedlots have been trying to draw attention to the consequences of having extremely small seeds to their operations, such as reduced ginning efficiency, seedcoat fragments, challenges in the delinting and decortication process, changes in meal nutrition, etc. This review focuses on the impacts of pursuing ever-increasing lint percent in modern cotton cultivars at the expense of seed size and attempts to highlight some of the less-known concerns of downstream cotton industry sectors.

A Holistic Review of Home-Grown School Feeding Programme for Primary School Pupils’ in Africa

School feeding programme is an important aspect of child’s cognitive development. Home-grown school feeding is an intervention programme designed for school aged children in order to eradicate hunger, increase enrolment, improve pupils’ nutritional value and pupils’ cognitive development whereas these objectives have not be achieved. Therefore, aim of the study is to holistically review the challenges faced in the implementation of home-grown school feeding programme among primary school pupils in Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Mali) and ways of solving these challenges. The paper also reviewed the concept of home-grown school feeding and its challenges. A qualitative research design of systematic search strategy type was used to gathered information in different databases and journals. In the course of the study, the researchers discovered that the programme is faced with the issues of corruption due non- remittance of regular fund to the school vendors and underfunding of the programmes. Other penitent issues include: low and inadequate storage facilities, political interferences, inadequate nutritional meals and low level of implementation. The researchers recommended that caterers should be trained by dieticians on the type of food to prepare for pupils’ and also government should set up a monitoring team to supervise the home-grown school feeding programme for proper implementation in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Mali and other Sub-Sahara Africa Countries.

Nutritional Intake of Children in Kebon Pala East Jakarta

Background: A mother is the main nutrition provider of an Indonesian family. Their own health profiles and situations may affect their abilities to provide proper nutrition. In this research, we try to find mothers in Kebon Pala profile, and the nutrition taken by their children; Method: This quantitative descriptive study was conducted by using a self-administered questionnaire which has been responded to by 94 mothers in Kebon Pala. This research was conducted from October 2021-April 2022. Results: 61.54% child takes 3 times carb intake a day, but unlike the national nutritional guidelines, only 20% take anima-based protein 3 times a day, only 34.83% take plant-based protein 3 times a day, and only 33.33% take vegetable 3 times a day. This minimal variation of plate filling happened, even though 49.44% child never complained about the food available and 55.56% child never complained about vegetables/fruit on their plate. Conclusion: Children in Kebon Pala did not eat balanced nutrition meals, and most of them have eating difficulties (fussy eaters).