ERIC Number: EJ1161320
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1559-5676
EISSN: N/A
An Evaluation of the Mississippi Recipes for Success Program from the Perspective of Child Nutrition Directors
Bell, Chelsea; Lambert, Laurel; Chang, Yunhee; Carithers, Teresa
Journal of Child Nutrition & Management, v41 n2 Fall 2017
Purpose/Objectives: The Mississippi Recipes for Success (MRS), a customizable selective menu system resource, was developed for child nutrition program (CNP) directors to comply with USDA nutrition regulations. The resource is available in printed and online formats and includes recipes, menu matrixes, food safety, and training materials for meal planning. The purpose of this study was to investigate CNP directors' perceptions of their satisfaction with, as well as the importance and helpfulness of, the various features included in the MRS. Methods: An electronic survey was developed in collaboration with the Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Child Nutrition (MOCN) and sent to CNP directors in Spring 2016. Directors rated MRS features using a 4-point scale for satisfaction and helpfulness and a 5-point scale for importance. Data analyses included descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVAs to measure associations. Results: CNP directors (N = 146) were contacted with 99 completing the survey. Overall results indicated high satisfaction with the MRS and its various features. Features with highest ratings were as follows: level of satisfaction--"Number of meal components found in recipes" (M = 3.45, SD=0.56), level of importance--"Easy-to-follow recipe directions" (M = 4.74, SD = 0.47); and level of helpfulness--"Portion sizes for age/grade groups" (M = 3.64, SD = 0.52). The majority of directors (n = 94) reported using the MRS for training with 53 using it on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Number of schools in a district and directors' number of years of experience in child nutrition did not significantly affect responses. Applications to Child Nutrition Professionals: Findings from this study can be utilized by the MOCN in updating future editions of the MRS resource. Their findings also have the potential to serve as a template for other state OCNs to provide directors with menu planning tools that are customizable and meet cultural needs, while ensuring compliance with USDA nutrition standards.
Descriptors: Child Health, Nutrition, Dietetics, Food, Program Effectiveness, Attitude Measures, Satisfaction, Online Surveys, Administrator Attitudes, Rating Scales, Statistical Analysis, Administrator Surveys, Cooking Instruction
School Nutrition Association. 120 Waterfront Street Suite 300, National Harbor, MD 20745. Tel: 301-686-3100; Fax: 301-686-3115; e-mail: servicecenter@schoolnutrition.org; Web site: http://schoolnutrition.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Mississippi
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A