Guiding Stars on Campus

UNH Today: Campus Life Articles

The Guiding Stars nutritional rating system, which educates consumers about food options, has had a positive effect on raising awareness of healthy food choices available at UNH, according to new research funded by the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station.“Our work looked to examine the impact of Guiding Stars — a simplified nutrition rating system — on customers’ perceptions of the availability of healthy food options. We surveyed customers before and after the addition of Guiding Stars in two dining venues: food court and café-style,” says Jesse Stabile Morrell, principal lecturer and undergraduate program coordinator in nutrition at UNH. “Many of us are looking to make changes that will support health and well-being. Food selection — whether it be at a grocery store, vending machine, dining hall or restaurant — can be overwhelming to people. This work suggests that a simplified rating system like Guiding Stars influences people's perceptions of the availability of healthy foods and the factors that dictate their choice. Eating establishments may find this helpful when they design menus or display information to customers who are increasingly looking for food options that support their health goals."
Morrell, Gale Carey, professor emeritus of nutrition, and Rochelle L’Italien, dietitian with UNH Dining Services, conducted the research. Their results are presented in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior in Guiding Stars Influences Perception of Healthy Food Choices at a 4-Year University.
“Our work showed that the addition of Guiding Stars changed patrons’ perceptions over time regarding the availability of healthy food choices. In addition, in a food-court setting customers more often felt that Guiding Stars influenced their food selection vs. prior to the addition of the rating system,” Morrell says.
Specifically, the researchers found that after implementation of Guiding Stars at the centrally located Union Court, respondents more often reported that posted nutrition-information and specifically Guiding Stars had influenced their food selections. ...

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