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    Examining the New Zealand school food environment: what needs to change?
    (Cambridge University Press, 2022-08-15) Pillay D; Ali A; Wham CA
    Habitual dietary intakes and nutrition behaviours developed during childhood and adolescence pave the way for similar behaviours to manifest in adulthood. Childhood obesity rates have now reached a point where one in six children globally are classified as overweight or obese. Schools have the unique ability to reach almost all children during key developmental stages, making them an ideal setting for influencing children's nutrition behaviours. Evidence suggests the school food environment is not always conducive to healthy food choices and may be obesogenic. The aim of this narrative review is to explore factors that influence the healthy food and drink environment in and around schools in New Zealand. The review focused on evidence from New Zealand and Australia given the close resemblance in education systems and school food guidance. Using the Analysis Grid for Environments Linked to Obesity (ANGELO) framework, the school food environment was categorised into the following domains: economic, political, physical and socio-cultural factors. Findings suggest that food policies are not utilised within schools, and guidelines to improve the school food environment are not well implemented. Canteen profit models, lack of staff support and resources, and higher availability of low-cost unhealthy foods are among barriers that hinder implementation. This review highlights recommendations from existing evidence, including canteen pricing strategies, restriction of unhealthy foods and using peer modelling in a time-scarce curriculum to improve the school food environment. Key areas for improvement, opportunities to enhance policy implementation and untapped avenues to improve the food and nutrition behaviours of children are highlighted.
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    Assessment of nutritional knowledge and food skills in talented adolescent athletes : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Human Nutrition at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2010) Burkhart, Sarah Jane
    There is very limited research on the nutrition knowledge and food skills of elite athletes in New Zealand. Adolescent athletes are moving through an important physiological stage of life, as well as training and competing in their chosen sports. These athletes are the future New Zealand sporting representatives and therefore need adequate nutrition knowledge for performance, as well as health and wellbeing. This research investigated the basic and sports nutrition knowledge of 100 talented adolescent athletes, aged 13 – 20 years from five team sports using a questionnaire and a focus group. The focus group involved 9 rugby players and investigated currently available nutrition resources. While the participants had a reasonable level of basic nutrition knowledge, their sports nutrition knowledge was not as high. They struggled with the concepts of sports drinks, muscle growth and supplements. Most participants had received some nutrition education and indicated that in the future they would prefer individual sessions with a sports nutritionist, written resources, as well as group sessions including cooking sessions and group workshops, and using a high profile athlete as a role model. The participants were very clear that their coaches and parents needed to be involved in their nutrition education. More research is needed to assess the overall knowledge of New Zealand adolescent athletes and the most appropriate, and effective methods of education for this group.