Food preparation literacy is defined as an individual's ability to plan, manage, and prepare tasty foods with limited directions (Vidgen & Gallegos, 2014). Food preparation practices are complex and demanding but they play a crucial role in health outcomes. Low food preparation literacy may contribute to less healthy food consumption,…

Established healthy eating behaviours in childhood underpin the development of similar patterns into adulthood. School-based nutrition and cooking programs have been found to enhance nutrition and cooking knowledge and cooking self-efficacy. This scoping review examined the literature about the effectiveness of nutrition education programs…

Background: Childhood is a critical period for developing food-related skills and knowledge, known as food literacy (FL). Schools may be an important setting for interventions aiming to improve FL in children. This systematic scoping review aimed to characterize food literacy interventions in elementary schools. Methods: Databases (PubMed, Web of…

Food literacy (FL) has become a key concept for many family and consumer sciences/home economics (FCS/HE) professionals, especially those with specializations in dietetics and nutrition, food studies, and education. References to food literacy have grown exponentially since its first mention in the 1990s (Begley & Vidgen, 2016) and are used…

Objectives: Cooking interventions are used in therapeutic and rehabilitative settings; however, little is known about the influence of these interventions on psychosocial outcomes. This systematic review examines the research evidence regarding the influence of cooking interventions on psychosocial outcomes. Methods: A systematic review of the…

The view of the authors is that the teaching of food in the school curriculum has varied throughout its history in order to meet political aims rather than educational ones. In this article they highlight the social and political changes that have influenced the teaching of food from its inception in the mid-1840s through to the present day. They…

This review synthesizes the empirical literature (1986-2006) focusing on teaching cooking skills to persons with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. Twenty-two studies were identified which provided information on four forms of technologies currently being used to teach food preparation: (a) picture-based systems; (b) Palmtop personal…

A review of food preparation and meal planning training studies involving individuals with disabilities was conducted to determine the extent to which nutritional issues were addressed. A lack of emphasis on nutritious and healthful foods was found, with nutrition education typically limited to the traditional basic food group approach. (Author/DB)

The article reviews the literature on teaching cooking skills to mentally retarded students. The lack of research which assesses procedures for teaching food preparation skills is discussed as are the need for training in natural settings, the costs involved in teaching cooking skills, and the need for more thorough baseline assessment. (Author/DB)

As technology evolves and the economy changes, greater demands will be placed on the workforce of the future. Myriad opportunities are and will be available to those who have the knowledge and the skills to meet those challenges. Afterschool programs offer a key opportunity to expose students to ideas and teach them skills that can unlock doors to…

The integration of educational technologies has and will continue to change the nature of education. From the advent of the printed word to the current use of computer assisted teaching and learning, the use of technology is an integral part of modern day realities and approaches to education. The purpose of this paper is to review some of the…