Conceptualising sustainability in Canadian dietetic practice: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Dietitians (RDs) are well-positioned to promote sustainable food systems and diets. This research aims to review the literature for how RDs in Canada define sustainability and determine the types of relevant activities that exist in practice as described in published literature. METHODS: Using standardised scoping review methods, researchers searched CINAHL, ACASP, PubMed and ENVCOM databases to identify peer-reviewed articles and conducted a grey literature search to locate other publications related to sustainability in Canadian dietetic practice. Qualitative, thematic coding methods were used to examine definitions and existing practice. The PRISMA extension for scoping reviews guided reporting. RESULTS: The search resulted in 1059 documents and, after screening, 11 peer-reviewed and 16 grey literature documents remained. Ten unique definitions were used, the most common being Sustainable Diets. Definitions were multidimensional, including environmental, social, economic and health dimensions, and 31 unique subtopics. However, existing practice activities appear to reduce actions to one to two dimensions. Existing practice areas well-reflected include Food and Nutrition Expertise, Management and Leadership, Food Provision and Population Health Promotion. Notable gaps include action in Professionalism and Ethics and Nutrition Care. CONCLUSIONS: No single definition supports all professional contexts, and agency in choice of language to define the work is helpful for contextual clarity. Strengthening practitioners' ability to analyse issues using systems thinking and applying this in practice will help to address challenges and reduce risks of trade-offs. Updates to competency standards that reflect the breadth of existing activities, as well as curricular supports or practice standards, are needed.

Factors contributing to school food program acceptance: a Review of Canadian literature.

Diet quality and food security are a concern in school-aged children in Canada. In 2019, the Canadian federal government announced the intention to work towards a national school food program. Understanding the factors that impact school food program acceptability can inform planning to ensure that students are willing to participate. A scoping review of school food programs in Canada completed in 2019 identified 17 peer-reviewed and 18 grey literature publications. Of these, five peer-reviewed and nine grey literature publications included a discussion of factors that impact the acceptance of school food programs. These factors were thematically analyzed into categories: stigmatization, communication, food choice and cultural considerations, administration, location and timing, and social considerations. Considering these factors while planning can help to maximize program acceptability.

Diet quality and having sufficient food to eat are concerns in school-aged children in Canada. In 2019, the Canadian federal government announced the intention to work towards a national school food program. Providing food to children in schools can only address diet concerns if children participate. Understanding the factors that impact school food program acceptability can inform planning to contribute to program acceptance. Themes of factors contributing to school food program acceptance discussed in 14 publications were identified. Themes included stigmatization, communication, food choice and cultural considerations, administration, location and timing, and social considerations. Considering these factors while planning can help to maximize school food program acceptability.

Comparing Diet Quality of School Meals versus Food Brought from Home.

Purpose: Consuming nutritious food is essential to learning. The purpose of this research was to determine the diet quality of elementary school lunches, both those in meal programs and those bringing food from home, in urban and rural locations in Saskatchewan.Methods: Using a School Food Checklist and digital photography we compared food group servings and diet quality in 3 school types: urban schools with a meal program and urban and rural schools without a meal program. The total sample was 773 students.Results: Only 55% of students brought the minimum number of servings for grain products and meat and alternatives, with fewer bringing the minimum for vegetables and fruit (25.6%-34.9%), whole grains (24.1%), and milk and alternatives (14.1%). Students bringing food from home had significantly more calories in their lunches from minimally nutritious foods. Students in meal programs had the highest diet quality scores using the Healthy Eating Index adapted for school hours.Conclusions: The diet quality of elementary students' lunches needs improvement, although students in meal programs have healthier diets. Interventions targeting what children eat at school should focus on increasing the number of students meeting recommendations for healthy foods while decreasing minimally nutritious foods brought to school.