Date of Publication
2-24-2010
Abstract
Background: Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center provides a safe and secure environment to teenagers who have been remanded here by the court system for either short or long term care. We focused on nutrition at the center, particularly the evening snacks provided. The foods teens choose to eat are extremely important as total nutrient needs are higher in adolescence than during any other time in the life cycle. Little prior research on the nutritional beliefs or habits of institutionalized youth has been done. Our goal was to improve the provided snacks, as some staff members were concerned that these were not healthy. Nutritional value of food is not a priority for many teens, despite the fact that they are usually well informed about good nutrition. Rather than simply dictate a menu change, we also attempted to assess and possibly modify esident attitudes regarding healthy food. We hoped to both provide a more nutritionally healthy environment and to each knowledge and skills that would lead to long-term physical and emotional benefits in an at-risk population.
Advisor(s)
Judith Christensen, PhD, Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center
Alan Rubin, MD, Fletcher Allen Health Care
Agency
Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center
Subjects
Nutrition and Weight Status
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License
Recommended Citation
Adams, Maura; Beucher, Meghan; Gerrity, Colleen; Libby, Brock; Masson, Ronald; McQuiggan, Michael; Patlak, Johann; Piper, Laura; Rubin, Alan; and Christensen, Judith, "Tough Cookies: Hands On Nutrition at Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center" (2010). Public Health Projects, 2008-present. 46.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/46