title: The effect of a recessionary economy on food choice: implications for nutrition education.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of an economic recession on food choice behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study using semistructured, in-depth interviews followed by completion of a nutrition knowledge questionnaire and the Food Choice Questionnaire was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample from a metropolitan city in the Midwest. Women with children younger than 18 years in the household who had experienced unemployment, underemployment, or loss of a house because of foreclosure in the previous year participated (n = 25).
  
  
  METHODS
  Reported behaviors for food choices when grocery shopping and dining out and educational resources requested to inform nutrition education programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews were coded with a matrix derived from participant statements. Common behaviors were grouped and broad themes were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Numerous shopping strategies were recently used to save money (eg, buying only sale items, using coupons). Participants believed a healthful diet included a variety of foods with less sugar, salt, and fat. Recipes and menus that required little cost or preparation time and resources to track food expenditures were desired.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nutrition education should include money-saving shopping strategies, facilitate menu planning and cooking skills, and address food resource management to enable participants to acquire sufficient, acceptable, and nutritionally adequate food.
authors: Department of Human Nutrition, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. CMiller@ehe.osu.edu
authors: Carla K
authors: CK
authors: Miller
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Branscum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics*; D057172:Economic Recession; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005502:Food / Q000191:economics*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors