2026-05-16T20:56:09Zhttps://keep.lib.asu.edu/oai/requestoai:keep.lib.asu.edu:node-2016352025-05-12T19:35:22Zoai_pmh:alloai_pmh:repo_items201635
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.2.N.201635
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
All Rights Reserved
2025
113 pages
Masters Thesis
Academic theses
en
Larsen, Karianna
Wharton, Christopher
Lehmann, Jessica
Vega-Lopez, Sonia
Arizona State University
Partial requirement for: M.S., Arizona State University, 2025
Field of study: Nutrition
In 2021, 43.6 million tons of food waste was produced by residential households in the United States. Finding patterns within food waste production and creating effective interventions to reduce wasted food is necessary for the future health of the planet. The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between household food waste and fruit and vegetable consumption in specific areas of Phoenix, Arizona. An exploratory goal of this study was to explore the potential changes in food waste awareness, intention, and social and societal norms using survey questions designed using the Comprehensive Action Determination Model (CADM) as a conceptual model. Participants were assigned to the Bin group, which provided them with a technologically advanced composting bin; RCity group, which provided them with a composting bucket; or control group. Food waste data was collected using both objective and subjective methods. Objective measurements consisted of weekly weighed food waste from homes, whereas subjective measurements of fruit and vegetable consumption and CADM constructs entailed self-report measures via online surveys. There was an increase in vegetable consumption for the Bin and RCity group and increase in fruit consumption for the Bin group. Participants in the intervention groups increased their scores on attitudes, awareness, intentions and norms against wasting food compared to pre-intervention. While the small sample size and attrition of the study limits the interpretation of the statistical significance of the results, the overall pattern of results lining up with previous literature suggests the effectiveness of educational food waste interventions combined with a food waste bin in improving diet and reducing potential food waste.
Nutrition
Food Waste Watchers: Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Adults Undergoing a Food Waste Reduction Intervention