Nutrition

Sound health is critical to quality of life (Skevington, 2007). Acquisition of skills in self-determination and independence are integral to quality of life. Two facets that engender self-determination and independence for an individual are healthy food choice and food preparation (Koponen et al., 2019; Yaddaden et al., 2019). However, healthy food choice and food preparation have received scant attention as individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) continue to face health disparities and poor health status. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore single subject experimental studies conducted on healthy food choice and food preparation from 2005 to 2022 in peer-reviewed journals. The methodology utilized a journal hand search, database search, and ancestral search. The results indicate that of the combined search of over 75,000 articles, less than 1% involved healthy food choice and/or food preparation. The results also illuminate the paucity of the research on healthy food choice and reveal that food preparation is gaining more attention in the empirical literature. The limitations of the study and implications for practice and research are also discussed.

The purpose of this study was to determine the acute effects of caffeine supplementation on strength and muscular endurance in resistance-trained women. In a randomized manner, 15 women consumed caffeine (6 mg/kg) or placebo (PL) seven days apart. Sixty minutes following supplementation, participants performed a one repetition maximum (1RM) barbell bench press test and repetitions to failure at 60% of 1RM. Heart rate and blood pressure were assessed at rest, 60 minutes post-consumption, and immediately following completion of repetitions to failure. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significantly greater bench press maximum with caffeine (p<0.05) (52.9 « 11.1 kg vs. 52.1 « 11.7 kg) with no significant differences between conditions in 60% 1RM repetitions (p=0.81). Systolic blood pressure was significantly greater post-exercise, with caffeine (p<0.05) (116.8 « 5.3 mmHg vs. 112.9 « 4.9 mmHg). Our findings indicate a moderate dose of caffeine may be sufficient for enhancing strength performance in resistance-trained women.

In the modern United States, capitalism is the predominant cultural value that structures the food system. The current American relationship to food is strained, at best, as two-thirds of Americans experience overweight and obesity and are at risk for a number of serious health complications. An understanding of the historic and political-economic aspects of the American food system is necessary to address the effects of our modern food habits on our ideas of our selves. This thesis analyzes the types of foods Americans eat, why they make the food choices that they do, how they feel about their eating habits and their habits' effects on their bodies, and how this all relates to our sense of identity as Americans.