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To obtain feedback from school nutrition stakeholders on an agent-based model simulating school lunch to inform model refinement and future applications. Qualitative study using online discussion groups. School nutrition professional stakeholders across the US. Twenty-eight school nutrition stakeholders. Perceptions and applicability of MealSim for school nutrition stakeholders to help reduce food waste. Deductive approach followed by inductive analysis of discussion group transcripts. Stakeholders appreciated the customizability of the cafeteria characteristics and suggested adding additional characteristics to best represent the school meal system, such as factors relating to school staff supervision of students during meals. The perceived utility of MealSim was high and included using it to train personnel and to advocate for policy and budgetary changes. However, they viewed MealSim as more representative of elementary than high schools. Stakeholders also provided suggestions for training school nutrition administrators on how to use MealSim and requested opportunities for technical assistance. Although agent-based models were new to the school nutrition stakeholders, MealSim was viewed as a useful tool. Application of these findings will allow the model to meet the intended audience's needs and better estimate the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives As food insecurity among college students in the United States continues to rise, large quantities of food are wasted on college campuses. This paper presents a simple, low-cost approach to address both issues, using an electronic learning management system to connect college students with good quality excess food. Participants: Students at a small East Coast urban university. Methods: Using the MAP-IT framework, a university-wide food rescue system was developed to alert students to obtain food. Results: During the first twelve months of implementation, 451 students enrolled to receive announcements. 78% of students reported satisfaction with the food obtained. Conclusions: This program was successful in providing students with access to desirable food that would otherwise have been wasted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food insecurity among college students exceeds levels of household food insecurity in the United States, and is a growing problem. Simultaneously, large quantities of food are wasted on college campuses. This paper presents a simple, low-cost approach to address both issues, utilizing an electronic Learning Management System as a platform to connect college students with good quality food that would otherwise be wasted. A needs assessment, program implementation, and outcomes evaluation are described; the food rescue initiative was positively received by the campus community. This program could be easily be adopted by any educational institution that utilizes a LMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food waste is a major contributor to climate change. Schools offer a unique opportunity to educate on this issue while also reducing food waste generation; however, few climate-change education curricula that include a food waste component have been developed and tested with fidelity. Thus, the purpose of this cluster randomized controlled study was to assess the effectiveness of a climate change and food waste education program called NJ Leaves No Bite Behind (NJLNBB) among fifth-grade students. Lessons on food waste and sustainable food behaviors were developed that aligned with NJ Student Learning Standards for Climate Change and Next-Generation Science Standards. Participants (n = 162) completed pre- and post-test surveys that assessed knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and behaviors. Post-test, the experimental group (n = 102) had significantly ( p < 0.05) higher mean scores in knowledge, social norms, behavioral intentions, and perceived behavioral control compared to the control group (n = 60), with medium effect sizes, as determined by partial eta-squared. There were no significant between-group differences in mean score attitudes, self-efficacy, motivation to comply, or climate-friendly behaviors post-test. Almost three-quarters of participants who received the program agreed or strongly agreed the lessons were fun (75.5%), liked the card games (72.5), and learned a lot (78.4%). These findings are promising in terms of teaching adolescents the impacts of food waste on the climate.