Negotiating a traditional food space for the Gujarati diaspora in New Jersey: Prohibitions, linkages, and acceptances.

Food practices directly or indirectly depend on tradition and the rituals that sustain a commonality of communal purpose. By invoking tradition and embracing accepted values through prescribed participation, a transnational and to a certain extent her or his progeny, are anchored to a cultural community. Émigrés must decide from a pastiche of food choices from "here" or from "home," that will mark family and self-identity.

Effectiveness of Individual Nutrition Education Compared to Group Education, in Improving Anthropometric and Biochemical Indices among Hypertensive Adults with Excessive Body Weight: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The study aims to compare the effectiveness of individual and group nutrition education methods in improving key anthropometric and biochemical markers in drug-treated, overweight-obese hypertensive adults.

Methods: The randomized trial included 170 patients with pharmacologically well-controlled primary hypertension and body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m. For six months, the patients received six sessions, either one-to-one individual nutrition education (IE, = 89) or group education (GE, = 81), developed by dietitians.

The effects of acclimation to the United States and other demographic factors on responses to salt levels in foods: An examination utilizing face reader technology.

The aim of this study was to assess the role of extended time in the United States (as defined as a continuous period greater than two years; referred to hereafter as "US Acclimated"), as well as other demographic factors, on the level of net positive response of consumers to different salt levels in food samples. One hundred panelists were recruited, including 50 meeting our US acclimation criterion. Panelists assessed samples of potatoes with five different levels of salt concentrations, and the levels of their net positive responses were evaluated with FaceReader technology (Noldus).

Consumer perception of genetically modified organisms and sources of information.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been available for commercial purchase since the 1990s, allowing producers to increase crop yields through bioengineering that creates herbicide-resistant and insect-resistant varieties. However, consumer knowledge about GMOs has not increased at the same rate as the adoption of GMO crops. Consumers worldwide are displaying limited understanding, misconceptions, and even unfamiliarity with GMO food products.

Consumer knowledge and attitudes about genetically modified food products and labelling policy.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between consumer knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the prevalence of GMO labelling in northern New Jersey supermarkets. This cross-sectional study surveyed 331 adults, New Jersey supermarket customers (mean age 26 years old, 79.8% women).

Workplace lactation support by New Jersey employers following US Reasonable Break Time for Nursing Mothers law.

Background: Returning to an unsupportive work environment has been identified as a major reason for avoidance or early abandonment of breastfeeding among working mothers.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the nature and extent of accommodations offered to breastfeeding employees among New Jersey employers since the US federal Reasonable Break Time for Nursing Mothers law enactment.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to measure current lactation support in the workplace in New Jersey.

Lactation accommodation in the workplace and duration of exclusive breastfeeding.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess current lactation accommodations in a workplace environment and to examine the association between the different dimensions of support and the duration of exclusive breastfeeding.

Methods: A survey was conducted with employees of a higher-education institution and clients of an obstetric hospital in New Jersey. Factor analysis identified dimensions of workplace support.

Alternative hospital gift bags and breastfeeding exclusivity.

The type of gift bags given to new mothers at the time of discharge from the hospital can influence their confidence in breastfeeding. Most hospitals in the US continue to distribute commercial gift bags containing formula samples despite the reported negative influence of commercial bags on the duration of breastfeeding. This study compared breastfeeding outcomes in women receiving three different kinds of gift bags at discharge.

Eating behaviors of older adults participating in government-sponsored programs with different demographic backgrounds.

The purpose of this study was to determine the food behaviors of nutritionally high-risk seniors as a function of their racial background, gender, marital status, and education level. A total of 69 seniors were identified to be at high nutritional risk using the Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) checklist. A supplemental questionnaire (SQ) was created to examine the risk factors in relation to the participant's demographic background.

Employers' readiness for the mother-friendly workplace: an elicitation study.

Currently over half of mothers of infants under 1-year-old are in the workforce in the United States. These women face challenges to continue breastfeeding when they return to work 3 to 6 months post-partum. This study explored the perspectives of employers on mother-friendly environments to assess their readiness to provide breastfeeding accommodation using the elicitation under the theory of planned behaviour.

An exploratory investigation of the risk of pathogenic contamination at selected New Jersey skilled nursing and assisted living residences.

Elderly populations are vulnerable and generally have the highest incidence of morbidity related to foodborne illnesses and this problem may be aggravated in institutional or communal eating settings. The objective of this investigation was to examine the potential risk of food contamination in selected skilled nursing and assisted-living residences using bacteria indicator tests for Listeria spp., Salmonella spp.

Predicting intentions to continue exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months: a comparison among racial/ethnic groups.

The purpose of this study was to explore how mothers of different races/ethnicities make decisions to continue exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for 6 months under the Theory of Planned Behavior. Participants were recruited from hospitals and WIC clinics in Central Indiana and Southern New Jersey from 2008 to 2009. Mothers (N=236: 93 non-Hispanic African American, 72 non-Hispanic white, 71 Hispanic/Latina) completed a self-administered questionnaire that measured theoretical constructs and beliefs related to their intention to practice EBF for 6 months.

Determination of malnourishment in the head and neck cancer patient: assessment tools and nutrition education of radiation oncologists.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate current assessment practices of malnourishment by radiation oncologists among the head and neck cancer patient population.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. A 14-question survey was mailed to 333 radiation oncologists self-identified as "interested in the treatment of head and neck cancer.

Measuring the impact of nutrition education and physical activity on older adults participating in government sponsored programs.

A longitudinal, four-year study (2004-2007) with a cohort of 139 older adults (majority women;71%) was conducted to examine the impact of community-based nutrition and physical activity programs on health outcome measures. Demographic and anthropometric data were collected and nutrition screening was performed. Blood pressure, serum cholesterol and glucose levels, and pulse rate were also measured.

Nutritional quality of organic, conventional, and seasonally grown broccoli using vitamin C as a marker.

Organically labeled vegetables are considered by many consumers to be healthier than non-organic or 'conventional' varieties. However, whether the organic-labeled vegetables contain more nutrients is not clear. The purpose of this study is to examine the nutritional quality of broccoli using vitamin C, a fragile and abundant nutrient, in broccoli as a biomarker.