| Summary: | <p> Substance use disorders (SUD) can lead to many adverse health effects including nutritional deficiencies and malnutrition. Research shows that proper nutrition can have a positive effect on recovery outcomes; however, nutrition services and education are often undervalued and not adequately utilized in substance abuse treatment centers. Previous research indicates that barriers to healthy eating are often due to ones lack of self-confidence in preparing and purchasing healthy foods. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a "hands-on" nutrition and culinary intervention in a SUD treatment center. Specifically, this study measured the participants' positive and negative attitudes towards cooking, as well as their perceived self-efficacy in relation to purchasing and preparing healthy foods. </p><p> There was a significant difference in the participants' overall self-efficacy related to food preparations skills, specifically in their ability to prepare whole grains. Participants also became more confident in purchasing whole grain products by the end of intervention. Further review of the study revealed that the participants' enjoyment of cooking increased significantly after completion of the cooking classes.</p>
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