Menu engineering: A strategy for seniors to select healthier meals

Aims: The specific objective of this ongoing investigation is to assess various menu manipulations and nutrition labelling to determine if they can effectively guide the older adult consumer to select healthier food items from a menu offering meals with differing nutritional attributes. Methods: One of three randomly assigned menus and a questionnaire were distributed to 150 senior adults (> 60 years of age) living in three assisted living residences, three congregate senior day programmes, and one senior church group in New Jersey, USA. A generic control menu, a treatment menu that used various merchandizing tools to promote the healthier menu items and the same treatment menu with nutritional labels added were designed. Participants selected their top five choices and then answered a short questionnaire, which surveyed demographics and menu selection background information. Results: The researchers found that certain menu merchandizing tools were effective, while nutrition labelling did not have a substantial effect for this population. Conclusions: Nutrition labels did not encourage healthier choices for the seniors surveyed in this study. Therefore, subliminal menu treatments may be more effective than nutrition labelling of menu items for elderly populations. Menu design has the potential to encourage healthier decisions through hidden persuaders, without infringing on the rights of elderly consumers to choose more indulgent menu options. However, menus are not effective tools for seniors who cannot cognitively and independently understand the menu. In certain circumstances, a non-select meal offering might be the best option. The menu strategies used in this study are most effective for those who are able to make independent menu choices.

THE VALUE OF SOCIALLY EXTRINSIC VS. INTRINSIC OUTCOMES: AN EXPLORATION OF AMERICANS FROM 1974 TO 1994

Stimulated by a recent exchange theory of value (Emerson, 1987; Stolte, 1998), the research reported here used archived data from the National Opinion Research Center's General Social Survey (GSS)[1] to examine 1974–1994 trends in the value placed by Americans on socially “extrinsic” vs. “intrinsic” outcomes of exchange. The data show an increase in the value placed on socially extrinsic outcomes (specifically income) and a decrease in the value placed on socially intrinsic outcomes (specifically those mediated by marriage, kin contact, neighborly interaction, fraternal and church group membership). These trends raise questions about a possible imbalance in the pursuit of extrinsic over intrinsic outcomes, and possible deleterious social psychological consequences. While the present results are exploratory and highly provisional, they strongly encourage further research aimed at answering these questions.

The Baggage of William Grant Broughton: The First Bishop of Australia as Hanoverian High Churchman

This article examines the intellectual and ecclesiastical baggage which W. G. Broughton brought with him when he came to New South Wales as Archdeacon in 1829 by tracing Broughton's early life and education, his early ministry and scholarly writings, and identifying Broughton's circle of friends in the Church of England. The travel diary which Broughton kept on his journey to New South Wales is examined for his estimate of the books he read while on ship. Broughton emerges from this study as a person of considerable scholarly talent, and a member of the old High Church group by both theological, and political conviction as well as personal friendships.

Human Rights in Latin America: Summary of a Report by Canadian Church Group

Summary of a report by a Canadian church group.

Contaminated roof-collected rainwater as a possible cause of an outbreak of salmonellosis

SummaryRoof-collected rainwater is a common water source in subtropical regions and has not been associated with human illness. In Trinidad, the West Indies, a church group, attending a rural camp, developed gastrointestinal illness, caused by Salmonella arechevalata. This rare serotype was isolated from stool specimens of campers, foods eaten at the camp, and a water tap, which was supplied by a storage tank of roof-collected rainwater. The surface of the roof, used as water catchment, was covered with bird faeces. It is postulated that rainwater, falling on the roof, washed off animal excrement which contained S. arechevalata and led to the outbreak of salmonellosis through camper ingestion of contaminated food and water.