Purpose: School-based interventions may increase children's preferences for vegetables and fruit (V&F). This Canadian study measured changes in Indigenous First Nations schoolchildren's V&F knowledge, preferences, and home consumption following the implementation of a gardening and V&F snack program. Methods: At baseline, 7 months, and 18 months, children in grades 1–6 (i) listed at least 5 V&F they knew, (ii) tasted and indicated their preferences towards 9 vegetables and 8 fruit using a 6-point Likert scale, and (iii) indicated their home consumption of 17 V&F. Results: At all 3 time points, 56.8% (n = 66/116) of children provided data. Children listed a greater number of V&F at 18 months (4.9 ± 0.1) than at baseline (4.5 ± 1.0) or 7 months (4.7 ± .07) (F_(1.6,105.6) = 6.225, P < 0.05). Vegetable preferences became more positive between baseline (37.9 ± 9.3) and 7 months (39.9 ± 9.2), but returned to baseline levels at 18 months (37.3 ± 8.7) (F_(1.6,105.8) = 4.581, P < 0.05). Fruit preferences at 18 months (42.7 ± 3.0) were greater than at baseline (41.1 ± 4.3) and at 7 months (41.9 ± 5.1) (F_(1.7,113.3) = 3.409, P < 0.05). No change in V&F consumption occurred at home. Conclusions: Despite improvements in V&F knowledge and preferences, home consumption of V&F did not occur. Complementing school-based programs with home-based components may be needed to influence V&F intake of children.

Purpose: To describe the food security status, food insecurity coping strategies, characteristics, and experiences of student clients of the Campus Food Bank (CFB) at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Methods: A convenience sample of 58 students completed a survey from April 2013 to April 2014. Food security status was determined using the "Adult Food Security Survey Module". Results: Ninety percent of CFB student clients who participated in this study were food insecure, which included both moderately and severely food insecure groups. The most prevalent coping strategies for food insecurity included applying for a loan or bursary (86.2%), seeking employment or working more hours (84.5%), and purchasing food using a credit card (77.6%). Participants were a diverse mix of students, including graduate students (50.0%), international students (46.6%), and caregivers of children (24.1%). The most common primary sources of income were government student loans (29.3%) and research assistantships (20.7%). Most participants (82.8%) liked the food they received from the food bank. Conclusions: Food insecurity is highly prevalent among student clients of this university-based food bank. Students used a variety of coping strategies to increase their disposable income, highlighting the need for additional strategies to alleviate food insecurity among vulnerable students.

Purpose: We compared food insecurity status, coping strategies, demographic characteristics, and self-rated health of international and domestic postsecondary students requesting emergency food hampers from a campus food bank (CFB).Methods: We collected data from a cross-sectional convenience sample of domestic and international students who accessed the CFB at the University of Alberta.Results: Food insecurity was prevalent (international students: n = 26/27 (96.2%), domestic students: n = 31/31 (100%)). Compared with their domestic peers, international students were less likely to rate their mental health negatively (14.8% vs 38.7%, P = 0.04). The primary income source was government loans (54.8%) for domestic students and research assistantships (33.3%) for international students. To cope with not having enough money for food, the majority of both student groups delayed bill payments or buying university supplies, applied for loans or bursaries, purchased food on credit, or worked more. International s... Objectif : Nous avons comparé le statut d’insécurité alimentaire, les stratégies d’adaptation, les caractéristiques démographiques et l’état de santé auto-évalué d’étudiants postsecondaires canadiens et internationaux qui avaient recours aux paniers alimentaires d’urgence de la banque d’alimentation de leur campus universitaire (BAC).Méthodes : Nous avons recueilli des données auprès d’un échantillon de commodité transversal d’étudiants canadiens et étrangers qui faisaient appel à la BAC de l’Université de l’Alberta.Résultats : L’insécurité alimentaire était prévalente (étudiants internationaux : n = 26/27 [96,2 %]; étudiants locaux : n = 31/31 [100 %]). Comparativement à leurs collègues canadiens, les étudiants étrangers étaient moins susceptibles de qualifier leur santé mentale de mauvaise (14,8 % vs 38,7 %; p = 0,04). La principale source de revenus était les prêts gouvernementaux (54,8 %) pour les étudiants canadiens et les postes d’assistant à la recherche (33,3 %) pour les étudiants étrangers. Pour ...

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to conduct a narrative review of the food insecurity literature pertaining to university and college students studying in Very High Human Development Index countries. It aims to document food insecurity prevalence, risk factors for and consequences of food insecurity and food insecurity coping strategies among students.Design/methodology/approach: English articles published between January 2000 and November 2017 were identified using electronic databases. Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies assessed the study quality of quantitative research.Findings: A total of 37 quantitative, three mixed-methods and three qualitative studies were included from 80,914 students from the USA (n=30 studies), Australia (n=4), Canada (n=8) and Poland (n=1). Prevalence estimates of food insecurity were 9–89 percent. All quantitative studies were rated weak based on the quality assessment. Risk factors for food insecurity included being low income, living away from home or being an ethnic minority. Negative consequences of food insecurity were reported, including reduced academic performance and poor diet quality. Strategies to mitigate food insecurity were numerous, including accessing food charities, buying cheaper food and borrowing resources from friends or relatives.Research limitations/implications: Given the heterogeneity across studies, a precise estimate of the prevalence of food insecurity in postsecondary students is unknown.Practical implications: For many students studying in wealthy countries, obtaining a postsecondary education might mean enduring years of food insecurity and consequently, suffering a range of negative academic, nutritional and health outcomes. There is a need to quantify the magnitude of food insecurity in postsecondary students, to inform the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies to reduce the impact of food insecurity on campus.Originality/value: This review brings together the existing literature on food insecurity among postsecondary students studying in wealthy countries to allow a better understanding of the condition in this understudied group.

In Saudi Arabia, data regarding salt-related knowledge and practices are still lacking. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate salt-related knowledge and practices and associated factors in Saudi adults. Data on the following variables were collected from 467 participants living in Madinah or Jeddah via face-to-face interviews: demographics, anthropometrics (height and weight), blood pressure (assessed using a digital sphygmomanometer), salt-related knowledge, and practices related to salt intake. Salt-related knowledge and practices were limited among the study participants; however, they were not correlated (r_s = 0.10). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that salt-related practices were negatively associated with sodium intake and positively associated with body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively), whereas salt-related knowledge was not associated with sodium intake, blood pressure, or BMI. Salt-related knowledge is limited and not linked to practices related to salt intake in Saudi adults. Interventions are needed to increase the accessibility of low-sodium food options and improve practices limiting sodium intake to prevent the occurrence of salt-related diseases among adults in Saudi Arabia.