The Effects of the 'Cooking for One' Curriculum on Nutrition, Food Safety, Food Resource Management, and Physical Activity Behaviors: A Pilot Study
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| Title: | The Effects of the 'Cooking for One' Curriculum on Nutrition, Food Safety, Food Resource Management, and Physical Activity Behaviors: A Pilot Study |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Tyler B. Becker, Ronald L. Gibbs, Becky Henne, Erika Garner |
| Source: | Journal of Human Sciences & Extension. 2025 13(3). |
| Availability: | School of Human Sciences, Mississippi State University. PO Box 9745, Mississippi State, MS 39762. Tel: 662-325-6861; Fax: 662-325-8188; e-mail: jhse@ext.msstate.edu; Web site: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/jhse/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 23 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Cooking Instruction, Food, Safety, Physical Activity Level, Nutrition Instruction, Adults, Resource Allocation, Planning, Program Effectiveness, Hunger, Low Income Groups |
| Geographic Terms: | Michigan |
| ISSN: | 2325-5226 |
| Abstract: | The number of single adult households has increased over the previous decades, and few health education interventions address these unique living situations, which come with various economic challenges. The "Cooking for One" curriculum is a cooking-based intervention designed to improve nutrition, food safety, food resource management, and physical activity (PA) behaviors among single adults. This curriculum includes six lessons, each with an educational and hands-on cooking component. Participants included 1,546 adults recruited through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education programs in the state of Michigan. Each of the participants underwent the six-lesson "Cooking for One" curriculum. Prior to and following the intervention, nutrition, food safety, food resource management, PA behaviors, and food security were assessed. Pre- and post-changes in nutrition, food safety, food resource management, and PA behaviors were examined using a paired t-test. Results revealed that several behaviors related to nutrition, food safety, food resource management, and PA significantly improved following the "Cooking for One" intervention. However, reported food security did not change. These results suggest that the "Cooking for One" curriculum is an effective curriculum for single adults for improving various nutrition and PA behaviors. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1492436 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The number of single adult households has increased over the previous decades, and few health education interventions address these unique living situations, which come with various economic challenges. The "Cooking for One" curriculum is a cooking-based intervention designed to improve nutrition, food safety, food resource management, and physical activity (PA) behaviors among single adults. This curriculum includes six lessons, each with an educational and hands-on cooking component. Participants included 1,546 adults recruited through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education programs in the state of Michigan. Each of the participants underwent the six-lesson "Cooking for One" curriculum. Prior to and following the intervention, nutrition, food safety, food resource management, PA behaviors, and food security were assessed. Pre- and post-changes in nutrition, food safety, food resource management, and PA behaviors were examined using a paired t-test. Results revealed that several behaviors related to nutrition, food safety, food resource management, and PA significantly improved following the "Cooking for One" intervention. However, reported food security did not change. These results suggest that the "Cooking for One" curriculum is an effective curriculum for single adults for improving various nutrition and PA behaviors. |
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| ISSN: | 2325-5226 |
