Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior

SNEB Journal Club 6: NEEDs for Tots: A Satter Division of Responsibility in Feeding Focused Early Childhood Education Curriculum

(Recorded 11/6/17)

Speaker: Elizabeth H. Ruder, PhD, MPH, RD, Rochester Institute of Technology 

NEEDs for Tots: A Teacher-Ready and Parent-Friendly Curriculum Focuses on Principles of the Satter Division of Responsibility in Feeding

http://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(16)30965-4/fulltext 

Authoritative parental feeding behavior is defined by parent leadership with feeding balanced by child autonomy with eating. This feeding style is associated with more healthful child eating behaviors and child weight status. Among young children, controlling, restrictive, and indulgent feeding practices are positively associated with child weight status. The Satter Division of Responsibility in feeding (sDOR) is 1 approach to support feeding relationships congruent with healthy growth and development. 

Learning Objectives: 
1. Describe the NEEDs for Tots early childhood education curriculum. 
2. Describe the Satter Division of Responsibility (sDOR) in Feeding. 
3. Discuss the sDOR.2-6y as an instrument to evaluate caregiver adherence to the sDOR in Feeding. 

Liz Ruder, PhD, MPH, RDN is an Assistant Professor at the Wegmans School of Health and Nutrition at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Dr. Ruder’s research interests are in community nutrition, eating behavior, and cancer prevention. 

SNEB Journal Club 5: Teacher Perceptions of Multilevel Policies and the Influence on Nutrition Education in Preschools

(Recorded 10/30/17)

Speakers: Virginia C. Stage, PhD, RD, LDN and Amanda D. Peterson, MS, RDN, LDN, East Carolina University 

Teacher Perceptions of Multilevel Policies and the Influence on Nutrition Education in North Carolina Head Start Preschools 

http://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(17)30003-9/fulltext 

Interrelated themes were condensed into three broad categories, and a substantive-level model emerged to explain how policy-related factors (i.e. actual policies vs. policy perceptions) influenced nutrition education (e.g. frequency, strategies) and child-related outcomes (i.e. learning outcomes, exposure). Multilevel policies and teachers’ perceptions of those policies directly and indirectly affect the quality and frequency of nutrition education. For instance, teachers described sanitation policies that limited or restricted the use of food-based activities (e.g. taste testing, cooking), while policies regarding hygiene (e.g. hand washing) and regulatory schedules created time constraints in the classroom. Findings suggest that teachers’ perceive their ability to provide quality nutrition education in the classroom is most affected by policies at the state and center-level. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Review past and current federal food and nutrition related policies (i.e. Child Adult Care Food Program, Head Start Performance Standards) and their potential impact on nutrition education in the preschool setting. 
2. Discuss methods and results of a qualitative examination of teacher perceptions of multi-level policies in NC-based Head Start preschools. 
3. Describe action areas nutrition educators can take to improve food and nutrition related policy in the Head Start environment. 

Virginia C. Stage is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Assistance Professor of Nutrition Science, and Director the The FEEd Lab at East Carolina University. The Food-based Early Education (FEEd) Lab's research focuses on childhood overweight prevention by improving early childhood teachers' food and nutrition education strategies when working with children (birth-5 years) and their families. Over the past 10+ years, Dr. Stage has worked with 300+ teachers nationally on how to integrate nutrition education into their classrooms. Finally, Dr. Stage also currently serves as Chair-Elect of SNEB’s Children’s Nutrition Education Division.

​Amanda Peterson is a Registered Dietitian and Research Associate at East Carolina University.  She graduated from East Carolina University with a Master's in nutrition and works as a Process Improvement Coordinator and Outpatient Dietitian at Vidant Duplin Hospital.  Amanda’s research focus is food and nutrition education policies in Head Start preschools with an interest in how policies influence the preschool environment.

Hot Topics Call: From Millennials to Boomers: Digital Communication for Nutrition Educators Across Generations

(Recorded 10/18/17)

The Communications Division Presents

From Millennials to Boomers: Digital Communication for Nutrition Educators Across Generations

Speakers: Joanne Larsen, M.S., R.D.N., “Ask the Dietitian” and Health and Nutrition Technology Developer and Elsa Ramirez Brisson, PhD, RD, Food FUNdamentals and Chair-elect Communications Division and topic specific experts TBA

When you wake up in the morning, where do you turn to get the latest news? Do you scroll through your Facebook feed? Or open a newspaper? The answer to this question may be highly correlated with your age.

Join the Communications Division for a lively discussion about how the use of digital communication tools among nutrition educators differs across the age spectrum -- and what generational groups can learn from one another. Joanne Larsen and Elsa Ramirez will share a brief presentation on the evolution of digital communication tools for nutrition educators to frame the conversation.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to provide examples of several ways in which age/generational groups differ in their use of digital communication tools (e.g. social media, websites, mobile apps, etc.)
• Participants will be able to discuss unique challenges to adopting digital communication tools for at least two different age groups (e.g. older generations and social media).

Speakers, Joanne Larsen, “Ask the Dietitian”, and Elsa Ramirez Brisson, Food FUNdamentals, met and started training nutrition professionals as the Web Wizards in 1996-2001 and they continue to They have collaborate on online projects. Joanne is an entrepreneur and works with a diverse list of companies and agencies developing technology tools and she will provide the overview of generational preferences in digital media access.  Elsa’s career in public health nutrition has focused on equity for diverse immigrant populations with literacy and English language challenges, she will focus introducing the challenges individuals face adopting social media in different populations.

National Farm to School Month: Early Care Education Edition

(Recorded 10/17/19)

Speakers: Rebecca E. Lee, PhD, Arizona State University, Anna Mullen, National Farm to School Network, and Lacy Stephens MS, RDN, National Farm to School Network

Sponsored by the SNEB Nutrition Education for Children Division

October is National Farm to School Month, a time to celebrate the connections happening all over the country between children and local food. It is also a great time to learn more about farm to early care and education (ECE), a suite of activities and strategies that entails three core elements, including the use of local foods in meals and snacks, gardening opportunities, and food-based learning activities implemented in the ECE setting. Join speakers from the National Farm to School Network and Arizona State University to learn about opportunities to celebrate National Farm to School Month and to learn more about the vast array of benefits of farm to ECE for children, families and communities.

Learning Objectives:

• Access resources to support and identify specific opportunities to engage in National Farm to School Month
• Identify the three core elements of farm to school and how they can be applied in the early care and education setting.
• Recognize and name the health and education impacts of farm to early care and education for children, families, and early care and education providers.
• Understand the importance of NFSN’s ECE Survey and how this information influences decisions made at the national/federal level for allocation of resources.

 Dr. Rebecca E. Lee is a seasoned community psychologist and a professor in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation (CONHI) at Arizona State University (ASU). Her research primarily focuses on environmental and policy determinants of healthy eating and physical activity in ethnic minority youth and families. Dr. Lee is a fan of community based participatory research (CBPR) which engages community partners in all phases of the research process to enhance sustainable health behavior change.

Anna Mullen has long held a passion for social justice and advocacy, with special interest in food access, community health and sustainability. She pursues these interests daily in her role as Communications Associate with the National Farm to School Network, which works with schools and early care and education sites to promote healthy, local food in school meals, school gardens and nutrition education for all children.

Lacy Stephens, MS, RDN, brings her passion for supporting healthy kids, thriving communities, and sustainable food systems to her work as the Farm to Early Care and Education Associate with the National Farm to School Network (NFSN). NFSN is an information, advocacy and networking hub for communities working to bring local food sourcing and food and agriculture education into school systems and early care and education environments.

Applicable SNEB Competencies:

• Behavior and Education Theory
• Food and Nutrition Policy
• Nutrition Education Program Design Implementation and Evaluation

SNEB Journal Club 4: Design and Evaluation of a Training Protocol for a Visual Estimation of Fruit and Vegetable Intake

(Recorded 10/16/17)

Speaker: Natalie Masis, PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 

Design and Evaluation of a Training Protocol for a Photographic Method of Visual Estimation of Fruit and Vegetable Intake among Kindergarten Through Second-Grade Students 

http://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(17)30004-0/fulltext 

Fruit and vegetable intake data can be invasive and time-consuming to collect; however, more methods in visual estimation of intake have been used to mitigate some of the issues associated with data collection. Having a training protocol for fruit and vegetable intake is essential in the reliable collection and assessment of intake data among raters. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Describe the importance of assessing fruit and vegetable intake in the lunchroom setting for school research. 
2. Describe the development of a training protocol for visual estimation of fruit and vegetable intake. 
3. Identify implications for research when creating a training protocol in use of lab or school settings and items to consider. 
   

Dr. Natalie Masis has a doctorate in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences from Texas Tech University, and both a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences and in Food Science from Cornell University. Dr. Masis' former research focused on assessing fruit and vegetable outcomes in school children. 

SNEB Journal Club 3: Staff Workshop Improves Child Care Center Menus in South Central Texas: A Best Food FITS Intervention

(Recorded 10/9/17)

Speakers: Brittany Markides, MS, RD, Lecturer, Nutrition and Foods, Texas State University; Sylvia Crixell, PhD, RD, Professor, Nutrition and Foods, Texas State University; Lesli Biediger-Friedman Assistant Professor, Nutrition and Foods, Texas State University

Staff Workshop Improves Child Care Center Menus in South Central Texas: A Best Food for Families, Infants, and Toddlers (Best Food FITS) Intervention 

http://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(17)30068-4/fulltext 

Workshop interventions with community childcare center staff show promise in improving menus. This study revealed significant differences in childcare center menus by collecting 4 weeks of menus, employing SuperTracker to cluster data by day and center, and analyzing the menu data using the SAS macro, MIXCORR, in a manner similar to that used by the National Cancer Institute to assess diet records. Hosting workshops with community childcare center staff may provide a service-learning opportunity for nutrition students and dietetic interns enrolled in universities.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe elements of a childcare center workshop intervention that can engage childcare center directors and staff.
2. Describe how to assess the impact of a workshop intervention using SuperTracker and MIXCORR.
3. Describe how to compare and display pre-post childcare center menu HEI scores.

Brittany Markides completed her BS and MS at Texas State University, where she is currently a lecturer. Her research focus revolves around maternal and child health. Ms. Markides serves as a research consultant, specializing in helping non-profits and public health organizations measure and report outcomes, and is the founder of Choose Food, a nutrition private practice specializing in non-diet approaches to health.

Dr. Sylvia Crixell is a Professor of Nutrition and Foods at Texas State University. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Texas State University in Biological Sciences. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Central Arkansas and earned her PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in biological sciences/nutrition. Dr. Crixell’s research focus includes maternal and child health and wellness. She founded and co-directs Best Food for Families, Infants, and Toddlers (Best Food FITS), a community-based program dedicated to combatting child obesity. In pursuit of technology solutions to improve health, Dr. Crixell has investigated the use of technology to improve health behaviors among low-income families enrolled in WIC and Head Start.

Dr. Lesli Biediger-Friedman is an Assistant Professor in Nutrition and Foods at Texas State University. She completed her dietetic internship and Master of Public Health degree at Benedictine University, and earned her Bachelor’s and Doctoral degrees from Texas Tech University in Nutrition Sciences. The focus of Dr. Biediger-Friedman’s research includes policy, systems, and environmental approaches to explore innovative strategies to build public health nutrition infrastructure, address food security, and improve dietary practices of maternal and child populations. She is a co-director of Best Food FITS, conducts community-based participatory research, and explores technology solutions for nutrition education. 

SNEB Journal Club 2: Healthier Children's Meals in Restaurants: An Exploratory Study to Inform Acceptable Approaches

(Recorded 10/2/17)

Speakers: Stephanie Anzman-Frasca, PhD, University at Buffalo, Sara C. Folta, PhD, Tufts University

Healthier Children's Meals in Restaurants: An Exploratory Study to Inform Approaches That Are Acceptable Across Stakeholders 

http://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(16)30907-1/fulltext 

A total of 63% of children ordered from children's menus, 8% of whom ordered healthier kids' meals. Half of parents reported that children determined their own orders. Taste was the most common reason for children's meal choices. Most (76%) children reported visiting the restaurant previously; 64% of them placed their usual order. Parents' views on toy incentives were mixed. Themes from executive interviews highlighted factors driving children's menu offerings, including children's habits and preferences and the need to use preexisting pantry items. Executives described menu changes as driven by profitability, consumer demand, regulation, and corporate social responsibility. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss parents’ and children’s perspectives on children’s meals in restaurants and factors likely to influence their ordering decisions in these settings

2. Discuss drivers of and challenges with modifications to create healthier menus from the point of view of the restaurant executives

3. Consider implications of the study’s findings for interventions to promote healthier eating in restaurants

Stephanie Anzman-Frasca, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo. She received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Bucknell University and MS and PhD degrees in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State University, where her dissertation research explored intersections between infant temperament and early obesity risk in the context of a behavioral obesity preventive intervention targeting first-time parents and their infants. The overarching goal of Dr. Anzman-Frasca’s research is to promote healthy developmental trajectories for all individuals beginning in early life, with a current focus on young children’s self-regulation abilities, healthier children’s meal options in restaurants, and intersections between obesity prevention efforts and children’s socio-emotional development.

Sara C. Folta, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Her research interests focus on public health nutrition, or the utilization of community-based strategies for improving dietary intake, physical activity, and body composition. She has particular expertise in behavioral psychology, communications, and qualitative methods. A major line of Dr. Folta's research involves community-based interventions to improve heart health among women. A second area of research includes behavioral strategies to improve health and well-being among older adults, particularly through the development of physical activity interventions. Dr. Folta's third line of research involves community-based interventions for obesity prevention among children. Dr. Folta received a B.A. in biology from Middlebury College (Phi Beta Kappa, Highest Honors), an M.S. in cell and molecular biology from the University of Vermont, and a Ph.D. in nutrition from Tufts University.

Communications Division 9-27-2017

SNEB Journal Club 1: A Point-of-Purchase Intervention Using Grocery Store Tour Podcasts About Omega-3s

(Recorded 9/25/17)

Speakers: Debra M. Palmer-Keenan, PhD, Rutgers University and Deepika Bangia, PhD, Public Health Solutions

A Point-of-Purchase Intervention Using Grocery Store Tour Podcasts About Omega-3s Increases Long-Term Purchases of Omega-3–Rich Food Items

http://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(17)30130-6/fulltext

Descriptive statistics were performed on demographic characteristics. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to assess whether food purchases increased from 6 months before to 6 months after intervention. Correlations assessed the relationship between intentions to purchase n-3–rich foods expressed on the intervention day with actual long-term n-3–rich food purchases. Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis ANOVAs and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to analyze differences between changes made and demographic variables (ie, participants’ gender, race, and education levels). 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Recognize the scope of nutrition education point of purchase interventions that have been done in supermarkets.
2. Interpret how mobile technologies, particularly podcasts, can be used to offer ongoing nutrition education support to their clients.
3. Describe types of omega-3s fatty acids and distinguish between the different n-3 fats with regard to their specific benefits and sources. 
4. Understand that shopping at the supermarket is a teachable moment for many shoppers.  

Dr. Debra Palmer Keenan, a past president of SNEB, is a Nutrition Specialist for Rutgers Cooperative Extension and a faculty member at Rutgers Department of Nutritional Sciences.  Dr. Keenan brings a unique set of skills to the field of nutrition education. 

She holds two Masters of Education degrees, one in Community Health Promotion and the other in Nutrition Education, both from the University of Cincinnati.  She also holds a doctoral degree in Nutrition Education from Penn State.

In her role as Extension Specialist, Dr. Palmer Keenan:

• Works on Urban, Limited Resource Community Nutrition issues
• Has a research and extension program in community nutrition which involves development, implementation and evaluation of nutrition education programs
• Provides statewide leadership for the Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)
• Develops and tests research methods that are appropriate for examining community nutrition issues.

Dr. Keenan's primary research area surrounds issues related to the effective delivery and evaluation of nutrition education for limited resource urban audiences. 

Deepika worked as a Dietitian and Nutrition Professional in India and moved to the United States to get her Ph.D. in Nutrition Education Research from Rutgers University. She has international experience in public health research and project management in non-profit organizations, academic institutions, hospitals, and the food industry.  She currently works with Public Health Solutions as Program Evaluation Manager for their Neighborhood WIC program.  

6 Ways to Get the Most of Your SNEB Membership

recorded 8/30/2017