Date of Award

5-2001

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Dietetics Administration (MDA)

Department

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences

Committee Chair(s)

Noreen B. Schvaneveldt

Committee

Noreen B. Schvaneveldt

Committee

Janet Anderson

Committee

Tammy Vitale

Committee

Von Mendenhall

Abstract

This study investigated milk consumption in an elementary school and whether it could be affected by milk temperature and/or nutrition education. This study was of interest because of the increasing amount of nutritionally related diseases, and the effect that calcium intake could have in diminishing some of those diseases. It was also of interest because the younger generation is drinking less milk and more soda, therefore setting themselves up for nutritionally related diseases later in life.

The study was conducted at an elementary school containing grades K-5. The study was conducted Monday through Friday for a seven week time period. The school had an old milk cooler that was not keeping milk very cold. Temperatures and consumption were measured with the old cooler for two weeks. The old cooler was then replaced with a new milk cooler; temperatures and consumption were measured once again for two weeks, during weeks three and four of the study. On week five nutrition education was implemented for one week. The education consisted of nutrition activities, classroom discussions, and explaining the functions and advantages of the new cooler. Temperatures and consumption were measured again after nutrition education during weeks six and seven of the study. The data was then evaluated in three categories: old cooler, new cooler before nutrition education, and new cooler after nutrition education.

Data showed that the temperature of the new cooler was colder than that of the old cooler. With the old cooler, 85 percent of students eating lunch were taking milk; when the new cooler was introduced, 95 percent of students eating lunch took milk. Although consumption was not significantly different, there was a 10 percent increase in the number of students taking milk. However, after the nutrition education, students taking milk increased from 95 percent to 96 percent, and consumption increased significantly. After nutrition education, ounces consumed per child increased from 6.8 ounces to 7.1 ounces. Therefore, the study showed that milk consumption did increase with colder milk and nutrition education.

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