Assessing whether Time Management Impacts Perceptions when it comes to Prioritizing Healthy Eating Habits by Consuming More Home-Cooked Meals

Abstract

Purpose: To assess whether an increase in time management, organization and goal setting skills, and perceived level of self-efficacy facilitated meal planning and preparation of homecooked meals. Design: Quasi-experimental design, pre- and post- surveys, and online education sessions. Setting: Private nutrition practice (Rural Roots PLLC). Participants: Clients of a private nutrition practice (Rural Roots PLLC). Measures: Pre- and post-education surveys administered in an online platform were used to assess changes related to time management, organization, and goal setting skills and whether such changes led to a higher frequency of home-cooked meals. Analysis: Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. Results: The contrast in pre- and post-test survey scores determined that the online education videos on time management and meal planning/preparation techniques did not elicit a statistically significant (P<0.05) change in increasing meal planning and preparation of whole-food meals at home and less intake of take-out, processed foods. Conclusion: Although this study did not show a statistically significant correlation in this matter, similar studies show a correlation between time management/organization skills and increased engagement in positive health habits. Additional research is needed in the topic.