Making Healthy Foods Accessible for Students



Making Healthy Foods Accessible for Students

Brooke Balch, Micah Christian, William Green, and Karlan Moerbe

Texas Tech University Students

November 20, 2006

Table of Contents

I. Proposal Summary 3

II. The Suggestion 4

A. Increasing the discount on the healthier food options 4

B. Indicating the higher discounted foods 4

C. Rearranging the foods 4

D. Marketing and advertising options 4

III. Background Information 7

A. The problem of obesity in the United States 7

B. Student health at Texas Tech University 8

C. Nutrition of the food available in Sam's Place and effects on the body 9

D. Price comparison of healthier food options at Sam's Place 10

E. Food Arrangements 11

IV. Conclusion 12

V. Bibliography 13

VII. Appendix 14

I. Proposal Summary

The Problem

Unhealthy foods at Sam’s Place contribute to poor eating habits among students at Texas Tech University. Obesity is a major problem in America, and may lead to chronic medical conditions. Although Sam’s Place sells a few healthy options, the majority of foods offered are high in fat, calories, and sugar. The healthier options are more expensive. These high prices discourage students from choosing them.

The Solution

We suggest to increase the discount of healthy foods at Sam’s Place. It will be important to clearly mark the higher discounted foods. Sam’s Place will need to be rearranged to promote healthy options. Advertising will be necessary to make students aware of the new discount.

The Suggestion

A. Increasing the discount on the healthier food options

The Sam’s Place markets should make the discounts on healthy foods higher than the discounts on less healthy options. If students have a meal plan, they automatically get a 15% discount on all food. We propose that the discounts for healthy foods be increased to 30%. This higher discount would encourage students to make healthier choices when buying food.

Indicating the higher discounted foods

The higher-discounted foods will be marked by a green sticker on the front of the package. We suggest that a green sticker be placed on the price label below the select items. Additionally, the green sticker will contain information explaining why the item has the higher discount. The sticker can also be used in the advertisements of the new discount. This will show students what to look for on the food package to find the higher discounted foods.

Rearranging the foods

We have three ideas for arranging the healthy food options. The first idea is to place the healthier foods close to the entrance to Sam’s Place. This will make them more convenient to find and purchase quickly between classes.

The second idea is to group the healthy foods so that health conscious students can easily identify the healthier options.

The third idea is to couple the healthy options with their unhealthy alternative. This arrangement may encourage students to choose the healthier option because it has a lower price.

Marketing and advertising options

Marketing will be crucial if this proposal is enacted. By effectively advertising the higher discounts on healthy food, students will be persuaded to make healthier choices.

Marketing healthy foods on campus can contribute to the health of students. We conducted a survey on campus that proves that students will purchase healthy foods if they were cheaper. By advertising the new discount on healthy foods, students will be more likely to adopt healthy diets.

Posting advertisements at various locations around campus would be an effective way to advertise. A crucial factor in promoting sales will be to strategically place the advertisements in high-traffic areas. These areas could include the library, the Student Union Building, the Business Administration Building, and all of the dorms. The advertisements would remind students about the new discount at Sam’s Place. These signs should include pictures of healthy foods. They should also illustrate the new discount students will receive when they purchase healthy foods.

Another way the new discount could be advertised is using the Internet. A large number of students log on to the Texas Tech web site daily. This would be a great way to advertise the new discount. Students will be more likely to maintain a nutritious diet while attending Texas Tech University with all of these marketing strategies.

Advertising is one of the most important aspects of this proposal. Student health is a serious issue that is often overlooked by Texas Tech. Texas Tech University can work to stop the rapid increase of obesity by making healthy foods more accessible for students.

Where is your head?

[pic]

Eat Healthy!

Sam’s Place now offers cheaper healthy foods for

Texas Tech Students

Background Information

A. The problem of obesity in the United States

Obesity is a severe problem in America. 64.5% of American adults are considered overweight or obese according to the American Obesity Association (AOA).[1] The AOA reports that obesity rates are continuing to increase.[2] The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has state-based programs that work to prevent obesity.[3] According to the Texas-based program, 63% of adults in Texas are overweight or obese.[4] Obesity is also a problem because “discrimination and mistreatment of persons with obesity is widespread and often considered socially acceptable.”[5]

Obesity can lead to serious medical problems and death. According to the AOA, obesity is the second leading cause of preventable deaths in America. The AOA attributes “300,000 excess deaths per year in the United States” to obesity. Obesity increases the risk of developing serious conditions such as high blood pressure, type two diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, and various types of cancer.[6] For more information on prevalence rates of obesity in the United States, see Appendix A Table 1.

According to the AOA, both men and women are more susceptible to various medical conditions if they are overweight or obese. Table 2 in Appendix A shows the increased prevalence rates of medical conditions for different body mass indexes.[7]

According to the AOA, Americans’ “tendency toward obesity is fostered by our environment: lack of physical activity combined with high-calorie, low-cost foods.”[8] According to the CDC, a healthy diet reduces the risk for a variety of chronic medical conditions. [9] Despite research that shows the importance of good dietary habits, “in the last 30 years, calorie intake has increased for both men and women.”[10] Many of the pre-packaged foods that are easily accessible may lead to an excessive caloric intake.[11]

“Reputable organizations, government agencies, and independent researchers agree on the importance of adopting healthy habits to prevent obesity.”[12] Healthy People 2010, “a set of health objectives for the Nation to achieve over the first decade of the new century,” suggests ways to prevent obesity with regards to nutrition.[13] According to Healthy People 2010, “food-related businesses can help consumers achieve healthful diets by providing nutrition information for foods purchased in…carryout operations.”[14] The health plan deems it necessary to make nutrition information available to the public in order to prevent obesity.[15] People in the United States need to pay close attention to the total calorie content to prevent the increase of obesity.[16]

Student health at Texas Tech University

College students are faced with “all-you-can-eat” cafeterias. Students develop schedules that are not conducive to healthy eating habits. College students who adopt poor eating habits are in danger of becoming obese.

Students’ health should be an important issue for the Hospitality Services Department. Statistics validate the problems between Sam’s Place and students’ dietary habits. Nutritionists and physicians would agree that the food served at Sam’s Place is unhealthy for daily consumption. Students exceed their daily caloric intake by eating the high calorie foods. Adding nutritious foods to students’ diets will impact Texas Tech University in many ways. For example, physician Dr. Michael R. Green said, “a healthier selection of foods will result in boosting the immune systems of students, which will aid the body in fighting bacteria and viruses.” Higher immune systems will cause less sickness among students, which promises higher class attendance. Eventually, better class attendance will lead to an increase in Texas Tech’s overall grade point average.

Students invest a substantial amount of money to attend Texas Tech University. Thus, they have the right to voice their opinion on the food selection on campus. A recent survey was conducted by our organization regarding Sam’s Place. The survey consisted of a series of seven questions. We surveyed students at random on campus. The sample pool included two Sam’s Place employees. The survey results are posted in Appendix B.

Nutrition of the food available in Sam's Place and effects on the body

The vast majority of food available in Sam’s Place does not contain adequate nutritional value. The foods are dense in calories, fat, and sugar, which all negatively affect the body.

According to Lydia Kloiber, a registered dietician and professor of nutrition at Texas Tech University, nutrition and specific components in food are positively correlated with human health, disease, and illness. Research proves that what you eat has an immediate effect on health.

Research has proven that food can have a variety of effects on the body. Many foods are beneficial and can reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and other sicknesses. However, some foods have the opposite effect. They increase cholesterol, coronary heart disease, and can lead to other serious medical conditions.[17] These specific statements are illustrated by health claims advertised on product labels. According to the FDA, health claims “show a relationship between a nutrient or other substances in a food and a disease or health-related condition. They can be used on conventional foods or dietary supplements. Health claims can include implied claims, which indirectly assert a diet-disease relationship. Implied claims may appear in brand names (such as "Heart Healthy"), symbols (such as a heart-shaped logo), and vignettes when used with specific nutrient information.”

These claims are strictly regulated by the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, overseen by the Federal Drug Administration. Some of the more popular positive claims involve calcium. Calcium is claimed to decrease the likelihood of osteoporosis and increase bone health. To experience the benefits of calcium, one can consume low-fat milk or other low-fat dairy products or a calcium supplement. Another claim is that fiber in grains, fruits, and vegetables reduces the risk of cancer. A high-fiber diet includes any fruits, vegetables, or whole-grain breads. Food sources with omega-3 fatty acids, such as fruits, pastas, and low-fat milk, can decrease the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).[18]

However, some claims state effects that are very negative and unhealthy for the body. For example, Americans gain more than 13% of their daily caloric intake from saturated fat. This particular fat raises cholesterol. Trans fat, found in shortenings, hydrogenated oils, and many store-bought snack foods, are likely to increase the probability of a heart attack and high cholesterol. Sodium, most commonly found in table salt, has been proven to increase the risk of hypertension. Hypertension is related to heart disease.[19] Consumers must carefully review health claims and realize that food and nutrients play a direct role in health.

The George Mateljan Foundation came up with a list of the 100 healthiest foods. They called the list “The World’s 100 Healthiest Foods” (Appendix C). The foundation picked from various food groups and made a list of criteria they wanted the foods to follow.[20] The healthiest food criteria stated that the food must taste good, be affordable to the common citizen, be readily available in markets, be known and familiar to everyday people, be whole foods, and be the most essential-nutrient dense foods in comparison to the calories they contain. They adapted these criteria to make healthy eating practical for every American citizen.

Price comparison of healthier food options at Sam's Place

The healthier options are more expensive than the unhealthy convenience foods. According to the survey we did, students would be more willing to buy healthier foods if they were more affordable.

On average, the foods that are less healthy are twenty percent less expensive than the more healthy options. While soda is $1.29, 2% milk is $1.89. Both bottled drinks are approximately the same size. Similarly, snack sized bags of chips are $0.99, while apple chips are $2.19. The apple chips have less fat, fewer calories, more vitamins than chips, but are much more expensive. Even for the foods that are not pre-packaged there is a price difference between the healthier foods and less healthy foods. The chicken nuggets that Sam's Place offers are only $2.19, and the pizza is only $2.99. The sandwiches are $3.99, and the fruit smoothies are $2.99, and the wok food is $4.29. The fruit cups and salads are also rather expensive because they have problems with them wilting and rotting. These are just some examples of the price differences that are seen between the healthier and unhealthy foods at Sam’s Place.

E. Food Arrangements

The way that Sam's Place is currently arranged makes unhealthy foods more convenient. When students first walk into the store, they are met with chips, candy, and pizza. The sandwiches, smoothies, bread, and soup are placed near the center or at the very back of the store. Even the sodas are relatively close to the entrance, in comparison with the fruit juice, slim fast, and milk. This promotes the unhealthy foods because the healthier options are made less convenient.

[pic][pic]

IV. Conclusion

The healthy snacks at Sam’s Place are more expensive than the unhealthy snacks. Our group suggests that the discounts for healthy foods be increased to encourage students to make healthier food choices.

This plan of action has the possibility of increasing student health during students’ college careers. This solution may lead to lifelong health benefits.

We are requesting that you consider this proposal. We have included a one page summary that is easily detachable for copying and distributing. We have included all of the sources that were used in this proposal in a separate bibliography. This bibliography enables you to quickly see where all of our information came from. We encourage you to use these sources to find any relevant information that would better help you persuade the department to adopt our proposal.

V. Bibliography

American Obesity Association. (2005, May). What is Obesity? Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

American Obesity Association. (2005 May). Obesity in the U.S. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

American Obesity Association. (2005 May). Preventing Weight Gain. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from

American Obesity Association. (2005, May). Health Effects of Obesity. Retrieved November 7, 2006 from

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006, May). Overweight and Obesity: State-Based Programs: Texas. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006 July). Critical Role of Nutrition. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006 August). Obesity: Calorie Consumption. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from

George Mateljan Foundation. The World’s Healthiest Foods. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

Healthy People 2010. (2005 October). What Is Healthy People? Retrieved November 9, 2006, from

Healthy People 2010. (2005 October). Nutrition and Overweight. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from

US Federal Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Paula Kurtzweil. (November-December 1998). Staking a Claim to Good Health FDA and Science Stand Behind Health Claims on Foods. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

VII. Appendix

Appendix A: Table 1 and Table 2 Page 15

Appendix B Page 16

Appendix C Page 17

Appendix A

Table 1 – This table shows the increased prevalence rates of obesity in the United States from 1976 to 2000.

|Increase in Prevalence (%) of Overweight (BMI > 25), |

|Obesity (BMI > 30) and Severe Obesity (BMI > 40) Among U.S. Adults. |

| |Overweight |Obesity |Severe Obesity |

| |(BMI > 25) |(BMI > 30) |(BMI > 40) |

|1999 to 2000 |64.5 |30.5 |4.7 |

|1988 to 1994 |56.0 |23.0 |2.9 |

|1976 to 1980 |46.0 |14.4 |No Data |

|Source: CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination |

|Survey. Health, United States, 2002. Flegal et. al. JAMA. 2002;288:1723-7. NIH, National Heart, |

|Lung, and Blood Institute, Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation and Treatment of|

|Overweight and Obesity in Adults, 1998. |

Table 2 – This table shows the prevalence of medical conditions in males and females with regards to body mass indexes.

|Table 1. Prevalence of Medical Conditions |

|by Body Mass Index (BMI) for Men |

|Medical Condition |Body Mass Index |

| |18.5 to 24.9 |25 to 29.9 |30 to 34.9 |> 40 |

|  |Prevalence Ratio (%) |

|Type 2 Diabetes |2.03 |4.93 |10.10 |10.65 |

|Coronary Heart Disease |8.84 |9.60 |16.01 |13.97 |

|High Blood Pressure |23.47 |34.16 |48.95 |64.53 |

|Osteoarthritis |2.59 |4.55 |4.66 |10.04 |

|Source: NHANES III, 1988 - 1994. |

|Table 2. Prevalence of Medical Conditions |

|by Body Mass Index (BMI) for Women |

|Medical Condition |Body Mass Index |

| |18.5 to 24.9 |25 to 29.9 |30 to 34.9 |> 40 |

|  |Prevalence Ratio (%) |

|Type 2 Diabetes |2.38 |7.12 |7.24 |19.89 |

|Coronary Heart Disease |6.87 |11.13 |12.56 |19.22 |

|High Blood Pressure |23.26 |38.77 |47.95 |63.16 |

|Osteoarthritis |5.22 |8.51 |9.94 |17.19 |

|Source: NHANES III, 1988 - 1994. |

Appendix B

We conducted a survey of twenty students about their health and Sam’s Place.

Questions

1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how worried are you about your health? (10 being the most worried)

2. How often do you eat at Sam’s Place a week?

3. Do you look at the nutrition labels on foods?

4. Would you buy nutritious foods if they were cheaper?

5. How many times a week do you exercise?

6. On a scale from 1 to 10 how healthy do you think you are?

7. Do you think Sam’s Place offers a good selection of healthy foods?

(-----------------------------------Questions---------------------------------------------)

| |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |

|1 |7 |2 |Yes |Yes |0 |7 |No |

|2 |6 |10 |Yes |Yes |5 |7 |No |

|3 |7 |5 |Yes |Yes |4 |7 |No |

|4 |5 |20 |Yes |Yes |0 |5 |No |

|5 |5 |12 |Yes |Yes |2 |6 |No |

|6 |5 |6 |No |Yes |1 |4 |No |

|7 |6 |6 |No |Yes |1 |8 |No |

|8 |2 |8 |No |Yes |5 |8 |No |

|9 |5 |0 |Yes |Does not matter |7 |7 |No |

|10 |5 |1 |No |Does not matter |7 |7 |No |

|11 |2 |5 |Yes |Yes |0 |5 |No |

|12 |5 |1 |Yes |Yes |0 |3 |No |

|13 |6 |4 |Yes |Yes |5 |7 |No |

|14 |8 |4 |Yes |Yes |5 |7 |No |

|15 |8 |2 |Yes |No |5 |7 |No |

|16 |7 |5 |Yes |Yes |5 |8 |No |

|17 |6 |4 |No |No |3 |6 |No |

|18 |3 |6 |Yes |Yes |5 |8 |No |

|19 |4 |3 |Yes |No | 3 |6(1/2) |No |

|20 |5 |3 |Yes |Yes |0 |4 |No |

Appendix C

The George Mateljan Foundation published a list called “The World’s 100 Healthiest Foods.”

|Vegetables |Fruits |Beans/Legumes |Spices & Herbs |Fish/Seafood |

|Asparagus |Apples |Black beans |Basil |Cod |

|Avocados |Apricots |Dried peas |Black pepper |Halibut |

|Beets |Bananas |Garbanzo beans |Cayenne pepper |Salmon |

|Bell peppers |Blueberries |Kidney beans |Chili pepper, dried |Scallops |

|Broccoli |Cantaloupe |Lentils |Cilantro/Coriander seeds |Shrimp |

|Brussels sprouts |Cranberries |Lima beans |Cinnamon, ground |Snapper |

|Cabbage |Figs |Miso |Cloves |Tuna |

|Carrots |Grapefruit |Navy beans |Cumin seeds |

|Cauliflower |Grapes |Pinto beans |Dill |

|Celery |Kiwifruit |Soybeans |Ginger |

|Collard greens |Lemon/Limes |Tempeh |Mustard seeds |

|Cucumbers |Oranges |Tofu |Oregano |

|Eggplant |Papaya |Nuts/Seeds |Peppermint |

|Fennel |Pears |Almonds |Rosemary |

|Garlic |Pineapple |Cashews |Sage |

|Green beans |Plums |Flaxseeds |Thyme |

|Green peas |Prunes |Olive oil, extra virgin |Turmeric |

|Kale |Raisins |Peanuts |Natural Sweeteners |

|Leeks |Raspberries |Pumpkin seeds |Blackstrap molasses |

|Mushrooms |Strawberries |Sesame seeds |Cane juice |

|Mustard greens |Watermelon |Sunflower seeds |Honey |

|Olives |Fish/Seafood |Walnuts |Maple syrup |

|Onions |Cod |Grains |Other |

|Parsley |Halibut |Barley |Green tea |

|Potatoes |Salmon |Brown rice |Soy sauce (tamari) |

|Romaine lettuce |Scallops |Buckwheat |Water |

|Sea vegetables |Shrimp |Corn |Meat/Poultry |

|Spinach |Snapper |Millet |Beef, lean organic |

|Squash, summer |Tuna |Oats |Calf's liver |

|Squash, winter |Low-Fat Dairy |Quinoa |Chicken |

|Sweet potatoes |Cheese, low-fat |Rye |Lamb |

|Swiss chard |Eggs |Spelt |Turkey |

|Tomatoes |Milk, 2%, cow's |Whole wheat |Venison |

|Turnip greens |Milk, goat |Whole wheat |

|Yams |Yogurt |

-----------------------

[1] American Obesity Association. (2005, May). What is Obesity? Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

[2] American Obesity Association. (2005 May). Obesity in the U.S. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

[3] Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006, May). Overweight and Obesity: State-Based Programs: Texas. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

[4] Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006, May). Overweight and Obesity: State-Based Programs: Texas. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

[5] American Obesity Association. (2005 May). What is Obesity? Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

[6] American Obesity Association. (2005, May). What is Obesity? Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

[7] American Obesity Association. (2005, May). Health Effects of Obesity. Retrieved November 7, 2006 from

[8] American Obesity Association. (2005 May). What is Obesity. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

[9] Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006 July). Critical Role of Nutrition. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

[10] Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006 July). Critical Role of Nutrition. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

[11] Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006 August). Obesity: Calorie Consumption. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from

[12] American Obesity Association. (2005 May). Preventing Weight Gain. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from

[13] Healthy People 2010. (2005 October). What Is Healthy People? Retrieved November 9, 2006, from

[14] Healthy People 2010. (2005 October). Nutrition and Overweight. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from

[15] Healthy People 2010. (2005 October). Nutrition and Overweight. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from

[16] Healthy People 2010. (2005 October). Nutrition and Overweight. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from

[17] US Federal Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Paula Kurtzweil. (November-December 1998). Staking a Claim to Good Health FDA and Science Stand Behind Health Claims on Foods. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

[18] US Federal Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Paula Kurtzweil. (November-December 1998). Staking a Claim to Good Health FDA and Science Stand Behind Health Claims on Foods. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

[19] US Federal Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Paula Kurtzweil. (November-December 1998). Staking a Claim to Good Health FDA and Science Stand Behind Health Claims on Foods. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

[20] George Mateljan Foundation. The World’s Healthiest Foods. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download