TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9
Poster Session: Wellness and Public Health
It's Dinnertime: Findings and Implications of a National Study of the Cooking and
Eating Habits of Low-Income American Families
Author(s): L. M. Seman,1 L. Compton,2 M. Musiker3; 1Cooking Matters, Share
Our Strength, Washington, DC, 2APCO Worldwide, Washington, DC, 3Food and
Nutrition Policy, APCO Worldwide, Washington, DC
Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to describe the habits and percep-
tions of healthy cooking and eating in low-income families, and practical ap-
plication of these findings to their roles as leading nutrition educators.
Concern is growing about the influence of poor diet on American families’
health. Limited-resource families often face challenges achieving a healthy
diet. However, many misconceptions exist about the dietary goals and behav-
iors of this group. Cooking Matters sought to better understand the percep-
tions, behaviors and motivations of low-income families regarding healthy
eating and cooking through a nationally representative survey. Approxi-
mately 1,500 low- to middle-income families completed a phone or online
survey in English or Spanish. Quotas were assigned for age, poverty-income
ratio, race, and region to reflect population demographics. Concepts and def-
initions used in the survey were informed by two exploratory focus groups.
Data was analyzed for significant themes across a wide range of demographic
characteristics. Key survey findings include: families eat dinner at home five
or more nights a week (79%); they make dinners from scratch an average of
four nights per week; families say healthy dinners are important (85%), but
roughly half aren’t achieving this goal. While quality and variety of healthy
foods isn’t an overwhelming barrier for most families, price often is. This may
be only a perceived barrier: families’ rate fresh fruits and vegetables as signif-
icantly healthier compared to frozen or canned. Survey results show that
dietitians can promote healthy home-made meal preparation, recognizing
that low-income families are already cooking at home. They can also highlight
ways to choose alternative, affordable forms of fruits, vegetables, and lean
proteins. Overwhelming interest from families, and their belief that cooking
healthy meals is realistic, support demand for food-skills education.
Funding Disclosure: ConAgra Foods Foundation
A Daily Popcorn Snack Increases Whole Grain Intake without Changing
Consumption of Other Food Groups
Author(s): K. Reimers,1 N. Lv,2 J. Lowndes,2 T. Angelopoulos,3 V. Nguyen,2
J. Rippe2; 1Nutrition, ConAgra Foods, Inc, Omaha, NE, 2Rippe Lifestyle Inst.,
Celebration, FL, 3Health Professions, Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Learning Outcome: The participant will be able to recommend a strategy to
help clients increase whole grain intake using a familiar, well-accepted snack
of whole grain popcorn.
Popcorn is a whole grain, and population based research shows an association
between popcorn intake and whole grain consumption. To determine the
causality of popcorn intake on whole grain consumption and other food
groups, participants (n⫽117, age⫽ 52 ⫾ 10 years) were instructed to maintain
their usual diet and randomly assigned to either a daily popcorn snack group
[100 kcal/d of 94% fat-free microwave popcorn (6 cups)] or to avoid popcorn
(control) for three months. Three-day dietary records, collected at baseline
and 12 weeks, were used to assess changes in food group intakes. No signifi-
cant difference was observed between the two groups at baseline or 12 weeks
for intakes of vegetables, fruit, dairy, or meat/chicken/fish. In the popcorn
group, whole grain intake increased (1.49 ⫾ 0.20 vs. 2.29 ⫾ 0.16 ounces, p ⬍
0.05) and refined grain intake decreased (5.96 ⫾ 0.40 vs. 4.42 ⫾ 0.32 ounces,
p ⬍ 0.01). Whole grain intake did not change in the control group and was
significantly lower than the popcorn group at 12 weeks (1.48 ⫾ 0.17 vs. 2.29 ⫾
0.16 ounces, respectively, p ⬍ 0.01) These results show that popcorn con-
sumed as a snack increases whole grain intake primarily by replacing refined
grains and does not adversely affect the consumption of other food groups.
Encouraging the consumption of popcorn, a well-accepted and familiar food,
can help individuals meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 recom-
mendations for whole grain intake.
Funding Disclosure: ConAgra Foods
September 2012 Suppl 3—Abstracts Volume 112 Number 9
Evaluation of MyPlate as a Dietary Learning Tool among Young Adults
Author(s): J. J. Quinlan, L. Lee, A. Mangroo, K. Vierow; Nutrition Sciences, Drexel
Univ., Philadelphia, PA
Learning Outcome: Participants will develop a better understanding of the ben-
efits and limitations of the new MyPlate initiative.
MyPlate is the USDA’s newest visual tool designed to help consumers adhere
to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. It was introduced in March,
2011 and is a visual of a nine-inch plate that represents the proper portions of
food groups for a balanced diet. The goal of this research was to determine the
awareness among college students of MyPlate as well as how useful students
thought MyPlate could be in helping them to eat a healthy diet. A brief (31
question) online survey with visuals of MyPlate, MyPyramid and the Food
Guide Pyramid was developed and administered through the online survey
tool Zoomerang. Undergraduate students (approx. 13,000) at a private univer-
sity were sent a direct email inviting them to participate in the survey via a
link in the email. Over 900 students participated in the survey (57% female,
43% male). Of the respondents 92%, 59% and 38% were aware of the Food Guide
Pyramid, MyPyramid and MyPlate, respectively. Despite many students not
having seen it before, however, 91%, 78% and 67% thought that MyPlate was
“simple”, “visually appealing” and that they could “personalize MyPlate to fit
their diet”. While most students thought MyPlate would be helpful in plan-
ning their lunch and dinner, 36% thought that it would not be helpful in plan-
ning breakfast and 40% thought it would not be helpful in planning their
snacks. This research indicates that overall young adults found MyPlate to be
an appealing and potentially useful tool for planning a healthy diet.
Funding Disclosure: None
The Impact of Front-of-Package Labeling in Low Socioeconomic Areas
Author(s): A. Marco,1 A. Snelling,2 A. Mitra,3 T. Morrissey4; 1American Univ.,
Washington, DC, 2School of Education, Teaching and Health, American Univ.,
Washington, DC, 3Kogod School of Business, American Univ., Washington, DC,
4
School of Public Affairs, American Univ., Washington, DC
Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to identify the effect that front-of-
package food labeling has on self-reported food purchasing patterns of indi-
viduals in low-income areas.
Background: Unhealthy eating and increased consumption of processed foods
is a growing issue nationwide, particularly in low-income communities that
have limited access to healthy foods. Previous research has examined how
front of package labeling influences consumers’ decisions to purchase prod-
ucts; however, most studies focus on populations living in areas with ade-
quate income levels and sufficient access to grocery stores. The purpose of this
research was to investigate the effects, if any, of front-of-package food label-
ing on food choices in a lower socio economic area of Washington, DC.
Methods: One hundred and ten shoppers participated in an intercept survey in
two Safeway grocery stores of Ward 7 in Washington, DC. The sample demo-
graphics were 92% African American, 68% female, 45% received food stamps
and the 55% were 46 years or older.
Results: When asked to rank the most important factor in their food choices,
participants reported nutrition first, followed by taste, cost, and convenience
respectively. Data also indicated food stamp recipients were more likely to
choose cost over taste as a factor in purchases. Survey results indicated that
food choices are influenced by front-of-package labeling, and if a symbol or
claim is on a product, it is more likely to be seen as healthy.
Conclusion: This study adds to our limited understanding on the effects of front-
of-package labeling among residents in low-income areas. Regardless of income
status, selecting nutritious foods appears to be an important factor to shoppers,
and efforts can be made to aid in education and healthy eating practices.
Funding Disclosure: None
JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS A-85