Cooking and Meal Planning as Predictors of Fruit and Vegetable Intake and BMI in First-Year College Students

Andrea J. Hanson, Kendra K. Kattelmann, Lacey A. McCormack, Wenjun Zhou, Onikia N. Brown, Tanya M. Horacek, Karla P. Shelnutt, Tandalayo Kidd, Audrey Opoku-Acheampong, Lisa D. Franzen-Castle, Melissa D. Olfert and Sarah E. Colby
Additional contact information
Andrea J. Hanson: Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences, South Dakota State University, Box 2203, Wagner 425, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
Kendra K. Kattelmann: Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences, South Dakota State University, Box 2203, Wagner 425, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
Lacey A. McCormack: Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences, South Dakota State University, Box 2203, Wagner 425, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
Wenjun Zhou: Business Analytics and Statistics, University of Tennessee, 916 Volunteer Boulevard, SMC 247, Knoxville, TN 37996-0532, USA
Onikia N. Brown: Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Hospitality Management, Auburn University, Poultry Science Building 102A, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
Tanya M. Horacek: Department of Public Health, Food Studies and Nutrition, Syracuse University, 588 White Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244-3240, USA
Karla P. Shelnutt: Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida, Box 110310, McCarty Hall 3038A, Gainesville, FL 32611-0310, USA
Tandalayo Kidd: Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health, Kansas State University, 1324 Lovers Lane, Justin Hall 203, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
Audrey Opoku-Acheampong: Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health, Kansas State University, 1324 Lovers Lane, Justin Hall 203, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
Lisa D. Franzen-Castle: Nutrition and Health Sciences Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Ruth Leverton Hall 110, Lincoln, NE 68583-0806, USA
Melissa D. Olfert: Human Nutrition and Foods, Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, School of Agriculture, West Virginia University, 333 Agriculture Science Building, G028, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Sarah E. Colby: Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, 1215 W. Cumberland Ave, 229 Jessie Harris Building, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 14, 1-11

Abstract: The objective was to determine if cooking skills and meal planning behaviors are associated with greater fruit and vegetable intake and lower body mass index (BMI) in first-year college students who are at risk for excessive weight gain. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using baseline data from a multi-state research project aimed at preventing weight gain in first-year college students. Cooking type, frequency and confidence, self-instruction for healthful mealtime behavior intention, self-regulation of healthful mealtime behavior, and cup equivalents of fruits and vegetables (FV) were measured using validated surveys. BMI was calculated from measured height and weight. First-year students ( n = 1108) considered at risk for weight gain from eight universities completed baseline assessments within the first month of entering college. Multiple linear regression was used to determine associations among independent variables of cooking patterns, meal planning behaviors, and dependent variables of fruit and vegetable intake and BMI, after controlling for the influence of sex. Cooking more frequently, cooking with greater skills, and practicing meal planning behaviors are associated with greater fruit and vegetable intake and lower BMI in first-year college students. Interventions aimed at improving health in college students may be enhanced by incorporating cooking and meal planning components.

Keywords: fruit and vegetable intake; Body Mass Index; cooking; dietary behaviors; meal-planning behaviors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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