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Objective: To determine whether shopper-reported availability of foods from Minnesota food shelves and the importance of cultural foods/cooking items differed by demographic characteristics., Methods: Cross-sectional survey of food pantry shoppers (n = 4,680) who visited more than or equal monthly with choice over food selection., Results: Hispanic and Black shoppers had higher odds of reporting produce, eggs, and cooking items were always available than White shoppers (odds ratio [OR] > 1.35; P < 0.001-0.02). The odds of Asian participants reporting that meat, poultry, and fish were always available were lower than White participants (OR, 0.55; P = 0.002). Asian, Black, Hispanic, and male shoppers had higher odds of indicating the importance of culturally-specific food and cooking item availability than their counterparts (White, females, respectively) (OR, 1.7-6.1; P <0.001)., Conclusions and Implications: Inequities exist in the availability of healthy and culturally-specific foods in food pantries that could be addressed via food-sourcing policies/strategies and food bank distribution efforts., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background/Objectives: Barriers to food pantry use have been identified but little information is available regarding how these barriers are related to food pantry use. The purpose of this study was to assess relationships between barriers and (1) user demographic characteristics, (2) visit frequency and amount of food received, and (3) satisfaction with pantry visit experiences. Methods: Data were used from the 2022 Minnesota Food Shelf Survey, which included responses from 288 food pantries across the state with 6267 individuals reporting on barriers to pantry use. Survey barrier statements included limits on frequency of visits allowed, lack of reliable transportation, scheduling difficulties, and other. Survey satisfaction statements included being able to choose food types, being made welcome, having an easy selection process, having different varieties of food available, and foods having a favorable appearance. Chi-square and mixed model logistic regression analyses were used to assess relationships between reporting barriers and demographic characteristics, visit satisfaction, visit frequency, and amount of food received in the past 6 months. Results: Respondents were primarily non-Hispanic White (65%) and female (68%). Regression models showed that reporting barriers to pantry use was not associated with user demographic characteristics, but was associated with greater odds of visiting the pantry more often, and lower odds of getting more food from the pantry or reporting a satisfactory food pantry visit experience. Conclusions: Findings may be useful for food pantry staff to improve pantry access and visit experiences and for public health professionals who advise those who use food pantries to supplement household food supplies.

Purpose: Diet and physical activity behaviors are determinants of health for adolescents; however, few studies have assessed these behaviors among transgender youth. This study examined dietary behaviors, physical activity, weight-based bullying, and weight status among four groups based on transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) status and birth-assigned sex., Methods: Data were from a large cross-sectional, population-based, statewide survey of high school students (n = 80,794, Minnesota Student Survey, 2016). Comparisons were made for dietary and physical activity behaviors among TGNC and cisgender youth and among TGNC birth-assigned males and females and cisgender males and females., Results: About 2.7% of the total survey respondents identified as TGNC. TGNC students were more likely to be ethnically diverse, not living with a biological parent, participating in free or reduced-price school meals, and skipping meals compared with cisgender students. TGNC youth reported less frequent intake of fruit and milk and more frequent intake of fast food and soft drinks than cisgender students. TGNC students were also more likely to be overweight or obese, bullied for weight or size, and less likely to be physically active compared with cisgender youth. TGNC birth-assigned males reported more frequent intake of fast food and soft drinks and less physical activity compared with TGNC birth-assigned females and cisgender boys and girls., Conclusions: TGNC students reported more negative health behaviors than cisgender students. Programs to address disparities in diet and physical activity behaviors may need to be tailored by gender identity and gender identity subgroups., (Copyright © 2019 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the validity of 2 brief instruments to estimate fruit and vegetable (FV) intake among third-grade children., Methods: Children from an elementary school and a community center (n = 107) completed 2 retrospective questions for FV intake (fruit and vegetable questionnaire [FVQ]) and a food record (A Day in the Life Questionnaire [DILQ]) to estimate FV intake. Agreement between intake based on these instruments and 3 24-hour dietary recalls was determined., Results: Disattenuated Pearson correlation coefficients ranged from 0.40 to 0.69 for FV intake; however, the low reliability of multiple 24-hour recalls may have inflated the strength of the correlations. Altman-Bland difference plots suggested that the FVQ overestimated FV intake whereas the DILQ overestimated fruit and underestimated vegetable intake. Limits of agreement were wide for both tools, indicating poor overall agreement., Conclusions and Implications: The FVQ and DILQ were not valid instruments to evaluate FV consumption under current study conditions. Other assessment methods and instruments should be considered for young children., (Copyright © 2015 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Whole-grain intake among children is well below recommendations. The purpose of the present study was to test the acceptability and liking of pizza made with whole-grain crust compared with refined-grain crust among children in restaurant and school settings., Design: Plate waste data were collected via observation from child restaurant patrons consuming pizza made with either whole-grain or refined-grain crust. Waste was estimated by trained observers over eight months (August 2012-March 2013). Percentage waste was calculated and compared by crust type. A taste test was conducted with school children who tasted pizza made with whole-grain crust alongside pizza made with refined-grain crust and rated their liking of each product. Liking ratings were compared by crust type., Setting: Five Green Mill restaurant (a Midwest US chain) locations and one elementary school in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, Minnesota, USA., Subjects: Child restaurant patrons (n 394) and school children (n 120, grades 3-5)., Results: Children consumed as much of the pizza made with whole-grain crust (42·1 %) as the pizza made with refined-grain crust (44·6 %; P=0·55), based on an average serving size of 350-400 g. Liking ratings for both types of pizza were high (>4·5 of 5) and did not differ by crust type (P=0·47)., Conclusions: These positive consumption and liking outcomes indicate that whole-grain pizza crust is well accepted among children in a restaurant setting. The impact on whole-grain intake could be substantial if large, national restaurant chains served pizza made with whole-grain crust.

Whole-grain intake among children and adolescents is below national recommendations, prompting efforts to increase intake in schools. The purpose of this study was to compare the acceptance of whole-grain pancakes and tortillas to refined grain counterparts when served as part of the school meal. Data were collected at 10 schools in Minnesota and seven schools in Texas during the Spring and Fall semesters of 2009. Three pancake and two tortilla products of varying red or white whole-wheat flour content were each served an average of four times per school. Aggregate plate waste was collected and percent consumption used to assess acceptance. Students rated each product on overall liking, taste, color, and softness on 5-point (elementary schools) or 9-point hedonic scales (middle and high schools). Analysis of covariance was used to compare intake and rating scores of all products. For all children, intake of whole-grain products was substantial (percent consumption ranging from 67% to 75%). No differences were noted in consumption of whole-wheat pancakes compared to refined wheat pancakes, while consumption of whole-wheat tortillas was lower than refined products. In elementary schools, overall liking scores of pancakes made with red whole-wheat and both types of whole-wheat tortillas were lower than refined products. However, in middle and high schools, overall liking scores of 100% red whole-wheat pancakes and 66% white whole-wheat tortillas were similar to refined products. Substituting refined grain with whole-grain options represents a viable approach to increasing consumption of whole-grain products in schools., (Copyright © 2011 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To identify individual and environmental factors affecting intake of calcium-rich food and beverages by early adolescent Hmong girls., Design: Cross-sectional survey of girls, in-depth interviews with parents., Setting: Girl Scout and 4-H programs in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area., Participants: Convenience samples of 10-13-year-old Hmong girls (n = 102) and their parents (n = 20)., Analysis: Spearman correlation analysis, constant comparative method., Variables Measured: Individual and environmental factors for girls and reported intake of calcium-rich food and beverages., Results: Few girls observed parents drinking milk or were encouraged by parents to drink milk. Many reported low intake of milk with dinner meals and snacks. Only one third reported that calcium-rich food such as yogurt, cheese, and tofu were available at home, and intake of these food items was associated with availability. Parents accommodated child preferences and had few expectations for their child to eat certain calcium-rich food items. Parents did not commonly consume dairy products but indicated they made milk available for children. Knowledge of calcium requirements was limited, but most parents related calcium to bone health., Conclusions and Implications: Environmental factors may limit calcium intake by Hmong girls. Education should involve parents and children and address environmental factors that affect intake.

Objective: Maternal child-feeding practices have been linked to overweight in several studies. Overweight is a prevalent condition in Hmong preschool children in the United States, therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether maternal child-feeding attitudes and practices were associated with overweight in Hmong preschool children., Design: The Child-Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) was revised and administered to Hmong mothers with normal-weight and overweight children., Setting: Women, Infant, and Children Supplemental Food Program (WIC) clinics and community centers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area., Participants: Hmong mothers of normal-weight (n=45) and overweight (n=35) children., Main Outcome Measures: Relationships between maternal perceptions of child's weight, practices in child feeding, including monitoring, restriction, and pressure to eat, and overweight status in children., Results: No association was found between maternal attitudes and practices in child feeding and body mass index (BMI) of the child except for mother's perception of her child's weight. Mother's perception of her child's weight was also associated with maternal restriction of certain foods. Mother's education and children's weight status were weakly positively associated. Mothers with more education tended to be younger and to work outside the home., Conclusion: The lack of a relationship between maternal child-feeding practices and children's weight status may be due to factors such as mother's education, role of other caregivers, and cultural factors.

This study applied the Theory of Planned Behavior to fruit and vegetable intake among older adults. A cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to older adults (N = 205, mean age = 77 years) at senior centers. Most were women (74%), white (77%), and had >/= 12 years of education. Regression analyses showed that the theory constructs explained more than 40% and 18% (p < 0.0001) of the variance in intention and reported intake of fruits and vegetables, respectively. Perceived behavioral control was most important in explaining both intention and intake, followed by attitudes and subjective norms. Important control beliefs were related to convenience, preferences, time, and availability when eating out. These beliefs should be addressed in education for older adults to increase fruit and vegetable intake.

The objective of this study was to identify factors affecting the purchase and preparation of fruits and vegetables according to stage of change for low-income African American women with young children. The think-aloud method was used to collect verbalization data in grocery stores as women shopped (N=70) and in their homes during meal preparation (N=68). Audiotaped verbalizations were transcribed verbatim before encoding. Content analysis procedures were used to identify common themes by stage of change. Factors affecting decision making that varied by stage of change were preferences and specific needs (eg, for meals, for family members). Preferences regarding variety, quantity, color, and liking were more often expressed by women in later stages. Women in the later stages also often used meal-planning skills to include fruits and vegetables in meals. Interventions could be tailored according to selected factors regarding purchase and preparation of fruits and vegetables by stage of change to contribute to greater changes in intake.