Possible Solutions
The possible solutions to the diet challenge experienced by college students are discussed as a multi-varied approach is given to initiate positive changes in students’ dietary behaviors. The first solution is having nutrition education programs in colleges as a reaction to the continued unhealthy meal executions by the students due to a lack of nutritional knowledge and cooking abilities (UPMC, 2019). The Nutrition program will act as a fundamental remedy as it will aid in raising awareness about the benefits of having healthy meal intake, entrust the students with basic cooking abilities, and give points on budget-friendly nutritious alternatives (UPMC, 2019). As the programs are extensive, they aid in addressing the primary sources of detrimental eating practices. Secondly, developing meal preparation services and apps for college students is a potential remedy (Moscatelli et al., 2023). It is crucial to recognize that time is a hindrance in the life of a college student and that including meal plan services will provide a suitable remedy. The remedy can be attained by partnering with the local restaurants within the college vicinity, or even the devoted meal plans will give the students economical and nourishing meal choices (Moscatelli et al., 2023). Simultaneously, creating convenient applications will ensure swift access to balanced meals with the students’ responding meal needs and preferences (UPMC, 2019). Ensuring that the student’s inclination to meals is taken into consideration will help save time, offer cost-efficient diet plans for students, and act as an educational component for the students as they will get insights on the benefits of sustaining nutritional meals (Wongprawmas et al., 2022). The diet plan amenities and applications will aid in giving the students nutritious meals within their budgets. Thirdly, having community gardens in colleges will aid in solving the financial barrier to healthy meals (Hume et al., 2022). Giving the students direct access to fresh produce will help promote shared control as well as the financial hindrances of the students (Hume et al., 2022). Incorporating community gardens into colleges aligns with feasible objectives and encourages a comprehensive approach to wellness. Fourthly, drawing an eco-friendly model for healthy behavior to reinforce the significance of a multi-varied approach engrossing community-based initiatives, adjusting with the community garden remedy (Sogari et al., 2018). The model should go beyond personal conduct and consider the extensive social, environmental, and policy conditions (Sogari et al., 2018). The model is significant as it will give an interplay of various factors affecting the health of college students, and its alignment with garden remedy will encourage shared responsibility for sustaining the garden and community participation.
Evaluation
The retrospective assessment of the solutions evaluates their capability and feasibility, directing the choice of the three most effective strategies for implementation. The assessment of nutrition education initiatives hinges on the efficacy of enhancing students’ knowledge and skills (UPMC, 2019). Conducting assessments of the student’s knowledge before and after the program with continuous follow-ups will be highly significant for the remedy. Additionally, feasibility contemplation digs into the costs attached to the execution of the workshops, hiring nutritionists, and possible earnings on the investment in boosted health aftermath. Moreover, having community gardens in colleges will aid in assessing the diet habits and inclinations of the students, as the reviews will help note any changes and monitor the use of the garden and the engagement rate over time (Hume et al., 2022). The practicability of the remedy is looking at the aggregate cost of setting up the garden compared to the long-lived advantages to the students in addition to contacting reviews to determine if the initiative is effective in curbing the challenge.
Additionally, it insists on the significance of participating in maintaining the community green fields. Implementing meal plans and apps will aid in collecting feedback from the students through reviews and tracking the number of participants. Regular app utilization will help ascertain the remedy’s effectiveness (Wongprawmas et al., 2022). The practicability of the remedy is through assessing the costs of the collaborations with the nearby restaurants and that associated with the development of the app, in addition to tracking the end-user participation in the apps and how satisfied the students are over a given period by incorporating reviews in the applications. Additionally, creating an ecological model will help evaluate the changes in habits among college students in reaction to the model. The breadth to which the model addresses the identified challenges will help evaluate if the remedy is effective (Sogari et al., 2018). The practicability of the remedy is by conducting a cost-benefit evaluation to assess the financial implications and evaluating the accessibility of resources and infrastructure needed for fruitful implementation. The evaluation esteemed result is identifying possible issues and remedies for resource allotment.
Best Three Solutions
The three best and most impactful strategies for implementation from the evaluation are nutrition education initiatives, community gardens in colleges, and meal preparation amenities and applications. The nutrition education rationale equips students with the ability to make long-lived health choices and a comprehensive effect of the remedy as it offers cooking skills and simultaneously addresses knowledge gaps and the financial hindrances of college students (UPMC, 2019). In addition to the integrated approach of the remedy, it gives a preliminary guide to making informed decisions. The community gardens on college grounds are comprehensive wellness by connecting college students to nature and promoting well-being beyond nutrition. Additionally, the remedy gives the students direct access to fresh produce, therefore handling the challenges of financial hindrances by giving a sustainable source of pocket-friendly fresh food (Hume et al., 2022). The solution also gives college students a sense of belonging and shared control. Lastly, the meal preparation amenities and applications rationale is that it is convenient as it remedies time hindrances by providing quick and easy meal solutions and aligning with an inclination of nerdy students (Wongprawmas et al., 2022). The solutions also offer flexibility as various meal plans are arranged to cater to numerous dietary wants, which is a win for students.
References
Hume, C., Grieger, J. A., Kalamkarian, A., D’Onise, K., & Smithers, L. G. (2022). A systematic review of community gardens and their effects on diet, health, psychosocial, and community outcomes. BMC Public Health, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13591-1
Moscatelli, F., Antonella De Maria, Luigi Antonio Marinaccio, Monda, V., Messina, A., Domenico Monacis, Giusi Antonia Toto, Limone, P., Monda, M., Messina, G., Monda, A., & Polito, R. (2023). Assessment of Lifestyle, Eating Habits and the Effect of Nutritional Education among Undergraduate Students in Southern Italy. Nutrients, 15(13), 2894–2894. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15132894
Sogari, G., Velez-Argumedo, C., Gómez, M., & Mora, C. (2018). College Students and Eating Habits: A Study Using An Ecological Model for Healthy Behavior. Nutrients, 10(12), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10121823
UPMC. (2019, April 30). Healthy Diets for College Students: How to Eat Well on Campus. UPMC HealthBeat; UPMC HealthBeat. https://share.upmc.com/2019/04/healthy-diets-college-students/
Wongprawmas, R., Sogari, G., Menozzi, D., & Mora, C. (2022). Strategies to Promote Healthy Eating Among University Students: A Qualitative Study Using the Nominal Group Technique. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.821016
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