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Nutrients
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Community, School and Family-Based Nutritional Research
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Community, School and Family-Based Nutritional Research

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2025 | Viewed by 1143

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Valentina De Cosmi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
Interests: nutrition; public health; health-promoting schools; food portion sizes; pediatric nutrition; fatty acids; non communicable diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Schools, communities and families play a vital role in shaping children’s lifelong healthy habits, and the environment where children grow up influences their future choices, including decisions related to health and nutrition. Schools are a key setting where children not only acquire knowledge but also develop habits that can last a lifetime. Through structured programs, such as nutrition education, physical activity initiatives and the promotion of healthy meals, schools can teach the importance of balanced diets and active lifestyles. Communities also have a deep impact on children’s health by providing the external support systems children need to thrive. Access to community resources, such as local farmers’ markets, recreational facilities and health education campaigns, encourage healthier food choices and active living. Community leaders, organizations and policies can collectively address issues like food insecurity and create safe spaces for children to engage in physical activities, further reinforcing healthy habits. Families form the core setting where children learn their first behaviors and preferences. Parents and caregivers influence dietary choices through the foods they prepare, the mealtime routines they establish and the behaviors they model. Together, schools, communities and families create a network of influence that shapes children’s choices. This Special Issue aims to bring together research that examines how these interconnected spheres influence health outcomes, with a focus on their impact and potential for fostering positive change.

Dr. Valentina De Cosmi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • public health
  • health-promoting schools
  • prevention
  • community-based approach
  • food preferences
  • food choices
  • health literacy
  • physical activity
  • public food procurement

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 653 KiB  
Article
An Evaluation of Food Allergy Management Practices in a Sample of Canadian and American Schools
by April Quill, Michael A. Golding, Lisa M. Bartnikas and Jennifer L. P. Protudjer
Nutrients 2025, 17(12), 1971; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17121971 - 10 Jun 2025
Viewed by 258
Abstract
Background: Children, including the estimated 7% with food allergy, spend most of their waking hours in school. Variations in school-based food allergy (FA) practices exist. We aimed to examine differences in FA management practices across schools in Canada and the United States (US). [...] Read more.
Background: Children, including the estimated 7% with food allergy, spend most of their waking hours in school. Variations in school-based food allergy (FA) practices exist. We aimed to examine differences in FA management practices across schools in Canada and the United States (US). Methods: Parents of children with Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated FA were recruited through social media to complete a survey evaluating the schools’ stock epinephrine, epinephrine storage locations, school type, and location. Data were described, analyzed using logistic and linear regressions, and then reported as odds ratios (ORs) and standardized coefficients (b), respectively, with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) and p < 0.05. This study was approved by the University of Manitoba Health Research Ethics Board. Results: Overall, 177 participants (14% [26/177] Canada, 86% [151/177] US) were included. Children were, on average, 4.92 ± 3.12 years and were commonly but not mutually exclusively allergic to tree nuts (50% Canada; 40% US) and peanuts (33% Canada; 29% US). Compared to US parents, Canadian parents were more likely to report epinephrine self-carriage by their children (OR = 4.58; 95%CI = 1.67–12.59). Parents with children age > 5 years were more likely to report epinephrine self-carriage by their children (OR = 3.70; 95%CI = 1.38–9.93) but less likely to report that their children’s school had an allergen-friendly zone (OR = 0.25; 95%CI = 0.06–0.99). Compared to US parents, Canadian parents were more likely to report their child’s school had anaphylaxis management policies (OR = 8.98; 95%CI = 1.11–72.42). Conclusions: Significant in-school FA management differences exist between countries. These findings stress the need for consistent policies and practices to ensure effective care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community, School and Family-Based Nutritional Research)
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20 pages, 1083 KiB  
Article
Nurturing Movement: Longitudinal Associations Between Caregiver Type, Adolescent Diet, and Young Adult Physical Activity in a National Cohort
by Rahel Mathews, Danielle K. Nadorff and Riley Cowart
Nutrients 2025, 17(11), 1874; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17111874 - 30 May 2025
Viewed by 390
Abstract
Background: Childhood obesity rates remain high in the United States, with long-term implications for physical and mental health. Emerging research suggests that caregiving arrangements, particularly those involving non-parental caregivers such as grandparents, may influence adolescent health behaviors, including diet and physical activity. This [...] Read more.
Background: Childhood obesity rates remain high in the United States, with long-term implications for physical and mental health. Emerging research suggests that caregiving arrangements, particularly those involving non-parental caregivers such as grandparents, may influence adolescent health behaviors, including diet and physical activity. This study examined whether caregiver type (parents-only, grandparents-only, or multi-generational households) during adolescence predicted dietary patterns and physical activity trajectories into young adulthood. Methods: Data were drawn from 6260 participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Caregiver type was identified at baseline (Wave 1), and dietary intake and physical activity were assessed across four waves from adolescence (~age 15) to early adulthood (~age 29). We employed generalized linear models and linear mixed-effects models with multiply imputed data to examine changes in sedentary behavior, individual exercise, and team sport participation over time, controlling for age, sex, and race. Results: Overall dietary intake at baseline did not significantly differ by caregiver type (Wilks’ Λ = 0.998, p = 0.389); however, an exploratory comparison indicated lower dairy consumption in homes with a grandparent present (t(6258) = 1.995, p = 0.046). Trajectories of individual exercise differed significantly by caregiver type over time (Time × Caregiver interaction: F(6, 10,395.601) = 2.795, p = 0.010), with adolescents in grandparent-only households reporting higher individual exercise at Wave 1. Sedentary behavior trajectories also significantly differed by caregiver group over time (Wave × Caregiver interaction: F(6, 18,951.310) = 23.026, p < 0.001). Baseline nutrition was positively associated with individual exercise trajectories into young adulthood (Time × Nutrition interaction: F(2.961, 13,096.103) = 3.974, p = 0.012). Conclusions: Caregiver structure during adolescence appears to shape long-term physical activity patterns, albeit modestly. These findings highlight the need to consider diverse family configurations—particularly grandparent-led households—when designing public health interventions to promote adolescent nutrition and physical activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community, School and Family-Based Nutritional Research)
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Other

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13 pages, 410 KiB  
Brief Report
Validation of the Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) Dietary Index Against the Healthy Eating Index Among Elementary-Aged Students
by Ethan T. Hunt, Allison N. Marshall, Raja Malkani, Nalini Ranjit, Adriana Pérez, David J. Badillo, Danielle J. Gartner, Ashley Schelfhout, Vijay R. Narayanan, Christopher D. Pfledderer and Deanna M. Hoelscher
Nutrients 2025, 17(12), 1965; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17121965 - 10 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Objective: Assess the accuracy of the Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) survey’s diet quality index against the 24 h recall-based Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2020). Methods: Fifty-one rising third and fourth graders (mean age 9.5 yrs., SD = 1.03 yrs.) [...] Read more.
Objective: Assess the accuracy of the Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) survey’s diet quality index against the 24 h recall-based Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2020). Methods: Fifty-one rising third and fourth graders (mean age 9.5 yrs., SD = 1.03 yrs.) from a summer program completed the SPAN survey and a 24 h dietary recall on the same day. The study compared SPAN HEI scores from survey food frequency items to HEI-2020 scores from recalls using Nutrition Data System for Research (NDS-R) software, evaluating correlations and agreement metrics. Results: SPAN HEI averaged 36.87 (SD = 3.78), while recall-derived HEI was 49.05 (SD = 11.92). The mean difference between indices was 12.18 (SD = 10.83), with an absolute difference of 13.51 (SD = 9.01). Bland–Altman analysis indicated limits of agreement from −9.05 to 33.40. Spearman correlation between SPAN HEI and recall HEI was r = 0.44 (p < 0.01), with an ICC of 0.45 (95% CI = 0.04, 0.68). Conclusions and Implications: After comparing HEI scores from both tools, SPAN HEI and HEI-2020 demonstrated a moderate correlation, indicating that SPAN HEI may serve as a practical and less burdensome alternative for large-scale dietary assessments. While further validation is needed, these findings suggest its potential utility in monitoring diet quality at the population level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community, School and Family-Based Nutritional Research)
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