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Objective: This study aimed to measure changes in nutrition risk and nutrient intake after older adults received home-delivered meals (HDM) for 3 months.Design: This study used a pre-posttest study design, with data collected before and after 3 months of HDM services.Setting: Two HDM programs that serve the metropolitan areas of Austin and San Antonio, Texas.Participants: Study participants were aged 60 years or older, without dementia or terminal illness, and receiving HDM in Austin, Texas and San Antonio, Texas for 3 months.Measurements: The Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) and Mini Nutrition Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) were used to assess nutritional risk. The National Cancer Institute Diet History Questionnaire II (DHQ II) was used to assess nutrient intake over the past month.Results: After receiving 3 months of HDM, nutrition status significantly improved as measured by the NSI and MNA-SF. More participants met or exceeded the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for magnesium and zinc after receiving HDM compared to before receiving HDM. Dietary supplement intake was associated with a higher nutritional risk.Conclusion: Improvements in nutrition status were found after 3 months of receiving HDM, whereas intake of most nutrients did not change significantly. Results of this study provide further evidence that HDM can reduce nutritional risk of older adults, and may inform HDM programs on the differences of NSI and/or MNA-SF to assess nutritional risk of clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research outcome: Meals consumed at Head Start centers typically provide half of the dietary reference intakes (DRI) for Calories and more than 2/3 DRI for key nutrients. Because low income, minority children have a lower intake of certain nutrients, nutrient intake was measured in preschoolers at Head Start Centers in San Antonio, Texas. Methods: A digital plate waste study was conducted at two Head Start centers for three consecutive days (n=40 children aged 3-4). Two independent researchers used pre- and post-consumption photos of each plate at breakfast, lunch, and snack to estimate consumption of food in intervals of 10%. Analysis: Food intake and key nutrients were analyzed in NutriBase. Average daily and meal nutrient intake were compared to the DRI. Results: Average daily intake exceeded the DRI for protein (165%±25.4) and vitamin C (104%±39.9) and provided less than 1/3 of the DRI for vitamin A (24%±20), calcium (15%±7.8), iron (32%±12) and fiber (28%±7.9). Children consumed 50%±8.3 of the DRI for Calories-breakfast (18%±7.7), lunch (22%± 2.3) and snack (9.2%±3.2). Protein provided the largest percent of DRI for any nutrient for breakfast (48%±12), lunch (90%±18), and snack (28%±8.9). Breakfast provided the most vitamin A (14%±11), calcium (8%±4), and fiber (14%±6.2), while lunch provided the most vitamin C (57%±52). Low consumption of calcium (<10% of the DRI) was observed at all meals. Conclusion: Opportunities exist to improve preschool children’s consumption of calcium, vitamin A, fiber and iron especially at lunch at Head Start centers in San Antonio, Texas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore Hispanic adults' experiences participating in the Building a Healthy Temple diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) cluster randomized trial and collect their insights on intervention approach, delivery, content, impact, and suggested improvements for future DSMES programs delivered at church., Methods: Focus groups were conducted with participants from both intervention arms, that is, faith-based (FB) group and faith-placed group. Participating churches were predominantly Hispanic and located in San Antonio, Texas. Focus groups were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Inductive content analysis was performed with the assistance of NVivo software to code and categorize emerging themes., Results: A total of 138 adult participants took part in the current study. Participants in both groups highly valued the church setting for its convenient location and support system and reported positive changes in diabetes-related beliefs, knowledge, skills, behaviors, and health outcomes. FB participants appreciated the incorporation of spiritual teachings and facilitation by lay leaders, which created a sense of empowerment and improved outlook on living with diabetes., Conclusions: Church holds promise as a setting for DSMES program delivery in Hispanic communities. Church-based DSMES programs using a FB approach may further facilitate program adoption and sustainability., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.