Cathi Lamp

Food Security and Nutritional Outcomes of Preschool-Age Mexican-American Children

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship of food insecurity to nutrition of Mexican-American preschoolers. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey of low-income Mexican-American families with children of preschool age (3 to 6 years). Data included food security using the Radimer/ Cornell scale; acculturation; parental education; monthly income; past experience of food insecurity; and child weight, height, and frequency of consuming 57 foods. Weight-for-height z scores (WHZ), height- for-age z (HAZ) scores, and the percentage of overweight (> or = 85th percentile WHZ) were calculated. SUBJECTS/SETTING A convenience sample of Mexican-American families (n=211) was recruited through Head Start, Healthy Start, Migrant Education, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in Tulare, Fresno, Monterey, and Kern counties in California. Statistical analyses Analysis of variance, t tests, Spearmans correlations, and Mantel Haenszel chi2. RESULTS Limited education, lack of English proficiency, and low income were negatively correlated with food security (r = -0.31 to -0.44, P<.0001). After controlling for acculturation, children in severely food-insecure households were less likely to meet Food Guide Pyramid guidelines than other children (median number of food groups > or = recommended levels [interquartile range]: 2.0 (2.0) vs 3.0 (2.0), P<.006). Although WHZ (mean +/- SD = 1.28 +/- 1.80) and percent overweight (48%, N=19) tended to peak among children from household level food insecure families, no significant differences were found in weight or height status of children by level of food insecurity. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS Dietetics professionals working with low-income Hispanic-American families should screen for different levels of food insecurity to determine needs for nutrition education and other services.

Food Insecurity and Food Supplies in Latino Households with Young Children

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between food insecurity and food supplies in Latino households. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey, conducted February to May 2001. SETTING Six California counties. PARTICIPANTS Convenience sampling was used to recruit 274 low-income Latino families with preschool children from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Head Start, and other community-based organizations. Complete data were available for 256 families. VARIABLES MEASURED Food security, household food scores. ANALYSIS Pearson correlations, Kruskal-Wallis test, and logistics regression. Significance level at P <.05. RESULTS Controlling for maternal education, food insecurity over the past 3 months was associated with lower household food supplies: dairy, r = -.18, P <.01; fruit, r = -.36, P <.001; grains, r = -.27, P <.0001; meats, r = -.22, P <.001; snack foods, r = -.23, P <.001; and vegetables, r = -.29, P <.001. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS In Latino households, greater food insecurity is associated with a lower variety of most foods, particularly fruits and vegetables. Future research in Latino households should explore the effects of seasonal food insecurity and household food shortages on food intake of individual household members, especially young children.

Acculturation of Mexican-American mothers influences child feeding strategies

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of maternal acculturation level on child feeding strategies and anthropometry in preschoolers from low-income Mexican-American families. DESIGN/SUBJECTS Data are from a cross-sectional survey of 238 low-income Mexican-American families with preschool children living in California during 1998. Interviewers collected data from the mothers on child-feeding practices and weighed and measured the children in their homes. STATISTICAL ANALYSES Spearmans correlation coefficients, analysis of variance, and chi 2 were used to examine the relationship pf maternal acculturation level with feeding strategies and anthropometric measurements. RESULTS Compared with more acculturated mothers, less acculturated mothers tend to offer alternative foods more often when their children refuse to eat. More acculturated women are less likely to view bribes, threats, and punishments as effective strategies and are more likely to give vitamins than less acculturated mothers. Maternal acculturation is not associated with differences in weight-for-height z-scores, height-for-age, or body mass index of the children. Triceps skinfold thickness are larger in children of more acculturated mothers than in children of less acculturated women. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS Dietitians should consider differences in child feeding practices due to acculturation among Mexican-Americans. Successful strategies to encourage consumption of nutritious traditional foods and to transition from child-led snacking to more structured meals should be part of nutrition education programs.

Pilot Study: EatFit Impacts Sixth Graders' Academic Performance on Achievement of Mathematics and English Education Standards

OBJECTIVE Investigate the impact of a nutrition education program on student academic performance as measured by achievement of education standards. DESIGN Quasi-experimental crossover-controlled study. SETTING California Central Valley suburban elementary school (58% qualified for free or reduced-priced lunch). PARTICIPANTS All sixth-grade students (n = 84) in the elementary school clustered in 3 classrooms. INTERVENTION 9-lesson intervention with an emphasis on guided goal setting and driven by the Social Cognitive Theory. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Multiple-choice survey assessing 5 education standards for sixth-grade mathematics and English at 3 time points: baseline (T1), 5 weeks (T2), and 10 weeks (T3). ANALYSIS Repeated measures, paired t test, and analysis of covariance. RESULTS Changes in total scores were statistically different (P < .05), with treatment scores (T3 - T2) generating more gains. The change scores for 1 English (P < .01) and 2 mathematics standards (P < .05; P < .001) were statistically greater for the treatment period (T3 - T2) compared to the control period (T2 - T1). CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Using standardized tests, results of this pilot study suggest that EatFit can improve academic performance measured by achievement of specific mathematics and English education standards. Nutrition educators can show school administrators and wellness committee members that this program can positively impact academic performance, concomitant to its primary objective of promoting healthful eating and physical activity.

Hunger in California : what interventions are needed ?

OBJECTIVE Although research exists on the nutritional status of individuals and families who seek emergency food, there is little guidance on what to do about it. Our purpose was to develop effective nutrition interventions to assist individuals and families seeking emergency food. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS Two survey instruments were used to collect data on 697 emergency food providers and 3,365 emergency food clients in 20 California counties between 1986 and 1990. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. RESULTS Information from the food providers who staff the emergency food sites revealed insufficient food to meet the growing demand, client difficulties in using the donated food, and the need for information to improve the safety and nutritional quality of the donated food. Information from the emergency food clients documented that 70.4% of them were families with children, 84% had incomes below the poverty level, and 20% reported no income at all. In addition, most clients (70%) were not enrolled in the food stamp program. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS In response to the surveys, counties initiated a variety of interventions, including public awareness campaigns, community development activities, and nutrition education programs. Important strategies are to teach recipients ways to optimize food resources, encourage eligible individuals to enroll in federal nutrition programs, and link individuals with agencies that offer assistance.

Use of Home Study to Improve Nutrition Knowledge in Two Rural Counties of California

Abstract A home study approach to delivering nutrition education to rural low-income families was evaluated in two California counties. Low-income participants (N = 201), mostly Hispanic, were enrolled in a nutrition education program that covered basic nutrition in six mailed lessons. The study evaluated food-intake behavior changes using the 24-hour food recall. Significant improvements in nutrition-related knowledge and behavior were demonstrated by use of a Home Study Questionnaire (pre-/post-test). Other important results included reduced foods cost (from

CONSUMER FOOD SAFETY CONCERNS AND INTEREST IN PESTICIDE-RELATED INFORMATION

288 to

Reliability and Validity of Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire for Adults

271) with no apparent reduction in nutritive intake; self-reported changes such as increased consumption of beans, fruits, and vegetables; and decreased consumption of high-fat foods. Estimates of the cost of delivering this type of nutrition education program were low (approximately

Food insecurity prominent among low-income California Latinos

64.00 per graduated or completed participant).