There is a large gap between minority representation in the field of dietetics and the United States population, and nutrition students need advanced cultural competence training in preparation for future work with diverse populations. Universal recommendations for delivering and evaluating cultural competence training in nutrition programs are…

The use of Simulation-Based Learning (SBL) has increased in Nutrition and Dietetic (N&D) programs, although the research supporting its usability in N&D students is lacking. There are limited quality SBL instruments available that have been validated and tested for reliability in N&D students preparing for clinical practice. This…

In the face of a critical dietitian shortage, a decline in students, and a selective student placement process, this mixed-methods study examined the admissions practices of U.S.-based Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) dietetic internship program directors. It revealed a complex scenario where student interest meets stringent qualifications,…

Background: Overweight and Obesity is defined, according to the CDC, as a weight higher than what is considered healthy for a given height (CDC, 2021). This is calculated using a screening tool for overweight and obesity. Overweight is regarded as a BMI of 25-30, and obesity is greater than 30. The latest data shows that adult overweight and…

There is a lack of treatment guidelines for how to address the impact of nutrition on clients' mental health. Prior research is limited regarding psychologists' practices of nutrition counseling and has mostly focused on practices of dieticians and medical doctors. The purpose of this study was to examine psychologists' beliefs and attitudes about…

The purpose of the research was to explore how female nutrition/dietetics majors at a large, Midwestern university, with a caregiving role in their home, interpreted their roles in home foodwork, how their formally acquired nutrition knowledge influenced that role, and how they saw their role in home foodwork shaping their careers. These future…

Policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic shifted many extension programs from face-to-face delivery to virtual delivery. As a result, community nutrition programming offered through extension shifted. Despite the limited literature that currently exists related to the virtual delivery of adult community nutrition education programming, there are…

Due to the growing trend of healthy eating, concerns of disordered eating patterns have increased. In particular, orthorexia has gained interest due to taking the healthy eating trend too far. As college student populations tend to have a high prevalence of disordered eating, it becomes logical to examine factors contributing to development and…

Rising food and nutrition insecurity across the U.S. poses a significant health concerns. Despite the expansion of federal support and food aid programs, insecurity persists. This dissertation asks about the extent to which national funding initiatives and local emergency food organizations as mediated by the university-based agriculture Extension…

Research examining the administration, evaluation, and continued implementation of technology-based nutrition education interventions for low-income populations is lacking. This dissertation evaluated the implementation of Food eTalk, a statewide online, self-paced nutrition education program. Implementation occurred in various community- and…

Introduction: Education is a social determinant of health, and its intersection with incarceration is a powerful nexus for well-being of students. Whether policies specific to student well-being are associated with exclusionary discipline, a documented risk factor for incarceration, is unknown. This study has three aims: (1) to identify whether…

This study examines the influence of teaching digital resources of MyPlate on the nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to healthy eating habits among first and second-grade students. A pre-and post-assessment of this quasi-experimental research study measured the baseline KAP levels of 45 participants regarding healthy…

This study researched how a school could increase parental participation and community engagement while building a new Culinary Garden and Teaching Kitchen project. This engagement was foundational for expanding parental participation opportunities and further developing the community school. The study explored ways to balance power relationships…

Drawing upon feminist poststructural policy analysis, this study revealed dominant discourses of professionalism and the marketplace, working in tandem with a discourse of affirmation, to produce images of a regulated and vulnerable dietetics profession(al) who is striving to create and maintain perceptions of competence and expertise within a…

The high prevalence of food insecurity among college students is a public health concern that requires well designed interventions to address. College students experiencing food insecurity are more likely to practice diet-related behaviors that contribute to poor health, yet this population lacks the necessary knowledge and skills to make adequate…