Nutritional sciences faculty and graduate students at SNEB
Friday, August 11, 2017
Jennie Till and Bradyn Powell, Nutritional Sciences Master’s Degree students and Dietetic Interns, accompanied Dr. Deana Hildebrand and Dr. Gail Gates to Washington, D.C., for the Society of Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) Conference in July 2017 where they presented research posters.
Till’s research involved measuring the culinary practices and beliefs of Oklahoma
school nutrition professionals after participating in Cooking for Kids Training. Powell’s
research found that Cooking for Kids participants used fewer convenience foods in
school lunchrooms. At the same time consumption of entrees did not decrease and consumption
of fruits and grains increased, demonstrating that students accepted the new foods.
Participating in national meetings provides graduate students the opportunities to see their work in the context of research that is being done outside of OSU. Till observed that she was “amazed at how many people stopped by (my poster) to read my work and ask questions, ranging from students to members of the USDA working with Team Nutrition.”
Many individuals questioned Till, Powell, and Dr. Hildebrand about the possibility of expanding the Cooking for Kids program to other states and sharing their resources. Powell appreciated the opportunity “to network and to learn from people with similar passions.”
Grant funds made it possible for these graduate students to extend their findings across the country and to enrich their graduate school experience. Both students are now completing their supervised practice hours as the last step before they take the national exam and become credentialed Registered Dietitians.
In addition, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Hubbard, M.S., presented her poster, Assessment of the Consumer Food Environment in Two Rural Oklahoma Communities. Dr. Gates presented for Leslie Lauck, MS, Effectiveness of the Fresh Rx Program in Food Bank Clients with Chronic Disease, and Dr. Heba Eldoumi, Barriers of Culture, Acculturation and Religion on Nutrition Behaviors of Arab Muslim Mothers of Young Children in the U.S.
Cass Ring is the Coordinator of Cooking for Kids: Culinary Training Program for Oklahoma School Child Nutrition Professionals. Additional information may be found at https://cookingforkids.ok.gov/.