Abstract
To assess the effectiveness of an intervention to reduce the calorie content of meals served at two psychiatric rehabilitation
programs. Intervention staff assisted kitchen staff with ways to reduce calories and improve the nutritional quality of meals.
Breakfast and lunch menus were collected before and after a 6-month intervention period. ESHA software was used to determine
total energy and nutrient profiles of meals. Total energy of served meals significantly decreased by 28% at breakfast and
29% at lunch for site 1 (P < 0.05); total energy significantly decreased by 41% at breakfast for site 2 (P = 0.018). Total sugars significantly decreased at breakfast for both sites (P ≤ 0.001). In general, sodium levels were high before and after the intervention period. The nutrition intervention was effective
in decreasing the total energy and altering the composition of macro-nutrients of meals. These results highlight an unappreciated
opportunity to improve diet quality in patients attending psychiatric rehabilitation programs.
programs. Intervention staff assisted kitchen staff with ways to reduce calories and improve the nutritional quality of meals.
Breakfast and lunch menus were collected before and after a 6-month intervention period. ESHA software was used to determine
total energy and nutrient profiles of meals. Total energy of served meals significantly decreased by 28% at breakfast and
29% at lunch for site 1 (P < 0.05); total energy significantly decreased by 41% at breakfast for site 2 (P = 0.018). Total sugars significantly decreased at breakfast for both sites (P ≤ 0.001). In general, sodium levels were high before and after the intervention period. The nutrition intervention was effective
in decreasing the total energy and altering the composition of macro-nutrients of meals. These results highlight an unappreciated
opportunity to improve diet quality in patients attending psychiatric rehabilitation programs.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-5
- DOI 10.1007/s10597-011-9436-3
- Authors
- Sarah Stark Casagrande, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Arlene Dalcin, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Phyllis McCarron, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Lawrence J. Appel, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Debra Gayles, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Jennifer Hayes, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Gail Daumit, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Journal Community Mental Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-2789
- Print ISSN 0010-3853