Tech Chefs Project: Dinner 2.

0
Exploring the Integration of Technology and Family Meal Preparations
INTE 6720 Research in Information Learning Technology Instructor: Jennifer VanBerschot Spring 2012 - Final Action Research Paper Sara Lohndorf, Dawn Turek, Aimee Willis

Introduction and Problem Statement

The Tech Chefs team, consisting of Sara Lohndorf, Dawn Turek and Aimee Willis, had the unique opportunity to engage as action researchers within our own individual family environments, as well as within the context of the support group of a team. Our research practice addressed how we, as individuals, can implement technology to enhance shopping and preparation procedures for family meals. As a team, our research revealed how we could function as a support unit and disseminate the data from our research with one another, while also sharing our findings with a larger community of interest. Our goal was to implement technology in order to learn new cooking skills and techniques, track our progress and reflect on our shopping and planning practices. We reached our goal by utilizing Web 2.0 technologies, implementing best practices, and drawing on the support, communal findings and reflections of the team members. Professional work, household activities, and graduate school deplete our time and energy, but we have families, husbands, and in some cases children, who rely on us to prepare and serve complete, healthy meals several times a week. We enjoy healthy cooking and eating, but shopping and preparing can often be a challenge after a long day. Constantly planning meals and grocery shopping for ingredients is often overwhelming and stressful. Too often we venture unprepared and unorganized to the store where we end up with junk food and incomplete meals. This means we have to make multiple trips to the store during the week, or we have to settle for incomplete meals and unhealthy snacks. Through our action research, we have determined how the use of technology can improve the process of planning, purchasing and preparing at least five tasty, nutritious dinners per week. Each of us had the desire to establish a mealtime tradition that enriched our familys time spent together. We felt that providing weeknight, home-cooked meals was the perfect opportunity to foster positive experiences and create lasting memories with our families. The anticipated outcome of our research project resulted in our enhanced ability to shop for groceries more economically while making fewer trips to the store. Other benefits included expanding our cooking repertoire and increasing our meal preparation resources. We were also each able to utilize technology in a way that enhanced our community support network. Throughout the course of our study, we spent valuable time with our families during the shared mealtimes. Our literature review confirmed our hypothesis that shared family mealtimes have a positive impact on family dynamics. Our post-meal family surveys and daily reflection journals provided us with valuable data regarding the meal planning and preparation processes. The specifics about our study, including the context, our findings, our data collection methods and our limitations are addressed 2

in more detail below. We found that the results of our action research project provided each of us with an even greater incentive to improve our family meal planning, purchasing and preparing process.

Purpose and Intended Audience

The purpose of our research was to identify ways in which technology can aid in planning, purchasing and preparing five affordable, nutritious dinners per week. The intended audience for current and future reviewers of our research is blog readers and anyone who struggles with shopping and meal preparation, as well those interested in the topic of cooking for family. The audience included families, individuals, teachers and classmates. Our findings have been tracked and reported using a blog that anyone interested can access at www.techchefs.wordpress.com. For the purpose of the research process, our audience extended to our peer reviewers and instructor of INTE 6720: Research in Information and Learning Technology at the University of Colorado, Denver, with whom we have shared our progress and findings and from whom we have received feedback. The researchers and their families were the participants in this research project. Detailed information about the participants has been provided in the sampling section of this document.

Research Questions
To address the process we intended to improve, we set out to answer the following questions: 1. How can we use Web 2.0 tools to improve our planning, purchasing and preparing of five affordable, nutritious dinners per week? 2. Which Web 2.0 tools most effectively aid in our tracking, planning and preparing of meals? 3. How does having an online support network improve our teams planning, purchasing and preparing of five affordable, nutritious dinners per week? Our research questions stemmed directly from the process we intended to improve concerning the preparation of family meals. As noted, planning, purchasing and preparing meals for the family can be daunting. Therefore, by asking these questions we endeavored to research technological and support network features that would be helpful as they pertained to our research topic.

Context of Study
The setting in which the action research took place was in the homes of the researchers. Two of the researchers reside in Colorado and one in Georgia. We, as researchers, considered ourselves within an average family income level for our corresponding geographical location, which enabled more consistent data collection and reporting since all three of us had access to the same type and quality of meal ingredients while conducting the research. Nutritional value is considered an important factor during the research process. For the purposes of this research project, we agreed that the term nutritious in research question #1 refers to a balanced diet that includes carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients to maintain optimal health. We also agreed with the FDAs recommended daily calorie intake for children five to ten being 1800, women 2000, and men 2500 (Bistro, n.d.). These guidelines were followed during the course of research when selecting ingredients and preparing meals. Early research and statistical findings were a driving force in the researchers desire to increase the quantity and quality of family mealtimes within their homes. Family connectedness has a direct effect on youth development and spousal relationships (Cason, 2006). The frequency of family meals has been shown to reduce emotional distress, substance abuse, violent and early sexual involvement, as well as reduce the likelihood of childhood obesity (Eisenberg, 2004). The benefits of consistently dining together during family meals is positively associated with increased consumption of healthy fare such as fruits, vegetables, grains and calcium-rich foods (Szabo, 2004). There is an exorbitant amount of statistical data available regarding the positive effects of habitual family meals, along with negative effects associated with not dining at home with family regularly, which further encouraged successful implementation of the action research (Fiese, 2006).

Literature Review
In order to educate ourselves on the most current information available as it pertained to statistical information, benefits, costs, technological support and possible drawbacks of increasing the quantity and quality of home cooked family meals, we conducted a review of pertinent literature. Because the portion of our research which addressed family meals is a common topic, literature was abundant. Conversely, some aspects of our action research topic had little, if any, formal literature we felt worthy of inclusion. The aspects with minimal-to-no coverage included the concepts of technology implementation in family meal planning and collaborative environment 4

effects on family meal preparation motivation. It became evident that we were in the precarious situation of not only having too much literature to sift through, but also having too little, depending on the topic. We realized once we began uncovering articles of interest and mapping concepts, our research was leading us down an interwoven path of connectivity that supported the notion that food and eating are symbolical parts of a social system, and our underlying motivation to conduct this action research speaks to strengthening our families social system (Gustafsson, 1994, p. 14). Literature Research Questions Considering our research topic was multifaceted, there were several questions we researched in order to cover the spectrum of possible literature available in our field of interest. Based on our research questions, the literature review questions we sought to answer included: 1. How is nutrition affected by increasing the quantity and quality of home prepared meals? 2. What guidelines are available to aid individuals/families regarding the nutritional balance of home prepared meals? 3. How are individuals/families affected by increasing the quantity of meals shared in the home? 4. How do families benefit from shared mealtimes? 5. What technology is available to aid in meal planning, preparation and cost? 6. How is technology facilitating meal planning, preparation and cost? 7. How does an online, collaborative environment affect motivation to prepare family meals at home? Literature Search Procedures In order to sift through and review the most trustworthy literature, we consulted only academic and governmental databases, which included the Auraria Library, Google Scholar and the USDA website. At the time of this inquiry, nutrition, family values and cost of living (as it pertains to food budgeting) were hot topics; therefore, we avoided browser searches so as not to include any opinion pieces within our body of sources. Keywords that yielded results included: food pyramid, dietary guidelines, and food costs, all of which were entered into the USDA website. The keywords entered into Auraria Library and Google Scholar databases that yielded results included: family mealtimes, meals and technology, meal preparation, meal tracking, grocery shopping, and meal planning and online. Terms that did not yield pertinent results within these databases included: computer and 5

meal preparation, web 2.0 technologies and meal preparation, web 2.0 and family meals, web 2.0 and cooking, meal planning and affordability, menu planning and family meals, and collaborative and meal planning. Although we did not have to modify the literature review questions, we did have to modify search terms in order to net more results regarding the technology and collaboration aspects of our research. As previously mentioned, we experienced both an abundance and shortage of literature addressing the layers of our research topic. The wealth of literature increased our knowledge of the action research topic; whereas the scarcity of other pertinent information reinforced our awareness of the gap we would fill with our research project. Literature Review Findings As our team engaged in conducting the literature review, we utilized a log to record our findings, which is available for review on the Tech Chefs blog. It became apparent that the overarching concept of our literature review could be pared down to the phrase, planning and preparation of meals at home. From the research on this topic we were able to identify three essential themes which surfaced in the sources we reviewed. These themes were: 1. The nutritional importance of meals cooked at home 2. The benefits of shared family meals on individuals and families as a whole 3. The emergence of technology to aid in meal management Nutritional Importance of Meals Cooked at Home A review of the literature regarding the nutritional importance of cooking at home uncovered studies that suggested that family mealtimes may act as a protective factor for many nutritional health related problems during childhood and adolescence, including issues of [weight], unhealthy eating, and disordered eating (Hammons and Fiese, 2012, p. 3). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that families should regularly eat meals together to help prevent childhood obesity and produce positive effects on children's nutritional health. The AAP studies reveal that families who share at least three meals per week together have a twenty percent reduction in the odds of eating unhealthy foods than those in families that have fewer than three shared family meals together (Hammons and Fiese, 2012). Reviewing the abundance of literature available on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website led to the discovery that the studies this organization has conducted indicate cooking at home increases the intake of fruits and vegetables, which provide a variety of 6

nutrients and dietary fiber (USDA, 2012). Families who eat home prepared meals tend to eat fewer fried foods and drink less soda (USDA, 2012). Family meal frequency is also positively linked to the intake of protein, calcium, and a wider array of vitamins, which speaks directly to how nutrition is affected by increasing home meal preparation (USDA, 2012). Everyone should have access to information regarding which foods to eat and which foods to avoid, as well as what constitutes appropriate serving sizes. To help guide families in the right direction, the USDA has outlined dietary guidelines that are available on its website at usda.gov. There is rising concern regarding the decreasing health of the American population, and the USDAs informative literature addressed our question regarding what information is available to aid families in the nutritional balance of home prepared meals. The information available not only addresses dietary concerns, but also advises that physical inactivity [in conjunction with a poor diet] are the most important factors contributing to an epidemic of overweight and obesity affecting men, women, and children in all segments of our society (Dietary Guidelines, 2010, pg. viii). The guidelines, based on the most recent scientific evidence, include information on building healthy eating patterns, making healthy food choices, balancing calories to manage weight, as well as it details components of foods, which components to reduce, and which to increase. These guidelines have practical information and tips to help Americans build healthier diets, which are beneficial to those that want to achieve nutritionally sound home prepared meals (USDA, 2012, para. 1). The USDA has developed many helpful tools, including the My Plate guide to eating right. This symbol, available for review in the references section, illustrates what a nutritious plate should look like and was created to help Americans make healthy food choices. My Plate helps make the sometimes complicated food pyramid easier to understand and includes the five food groups: fruits, vegetables proteins, grains, and dairy and illustrates the amount of each that should be consumed. My Plate offers helpful tips such as enjoy your food, but eat less, avoid oversized portions, make half your plate fruits and vegetables, make at least half your grains whole grains, switch to fat-free or 1% low-fat milk (USDA, 2012, para. 1). It also advises to reduce and avoid sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals, and choose foods with lower numbers, drink water instead of sugary drinks (USDA, 2012). All of these criteria can and should be taken into account when preparing home cooked fare. The site also offers a tech tool to aid in tracking the nutrition of the food you are eating and comparing the results to your goals, which can be utilized to facilitate nutritional meal planning at home. Along with the My Plate guidelines, the USDA includes ways to eat healthy on a budget. Information on healthy eating within your budget includes adhering to the 3 Ps, an acronym for Plan, Purchase, and Prepare, which are designed to foster healthy eating habits. Plan includes activities that the Tech Chefs implemented during the research phase, such as planning meals and 7

snacks for the week according to an established budget, finding quick and easy recipes online, making a grocery list, checking for sales and coupons in the local paper or online and considering discount stores. Purchase includes tips such as buy groceries when you are not hungry and when you are not too rushed, stick to the grocery list, buy store brands if cheaper, find and compare unit prices listed on shelves to get the best price, choose fresh fruits and vegetables in season, and buy canned vegetables with less salt. Prepare includes advice such as prepare in advance, pre no cook on days when you have time, try a few meatless meals by substituting with beans and peas, or try cook meals like salads, and incorporate leftovers into a subsequent meal (USDA, 2012). The 3 Ps certainly offers information that informed and supported our action research topic, as well as provided nutritionally sound recommendations. The Benefits of Shared Mealtimes and their Affect on Families and Individuals Our research revealed that there are many tangible benefits to shared family mealtimes for both individual members of the family, as well as for the family as a whole. On an individual level, shared mealtimes can improve behaviors both inside and outside of the home. According to Fiese, the frequency of family meals is associated with more positive child outcomes (p. 76). Specifically, shared mealtimes can increase performance in school, decrease risky behavior and decrease mental health problems (Fiese, 2006, p. 75). These effects are the result of the communication and interaction which usually occurs during mealtimes. Families often spend meals conversing, asking questions, and emotionally interacting with each other. Whether its a son asking his father to pass the potatoes or a mother asking her daughter about her day at school, the communication and familial interactions which occur during meals proves to be valuable. Family communication and interactions during mealtimes can also positively impact the development of language and literacy skills in children and adolescents (Cason, 2006). For example, children who join in the conversations at the family dinner table are much more likely to develop stronger language and literacy skills than those of a child of the same age who did not participate in shared family mealtimes. Mealtimes can give children and adolescents exposure to new words, narrative skills, and topical transitions which enhances their vocabulary (Larson, 2006, p. 40). Mealtimes can also provide opportunities for family members to participate in interactions that reinforce belonging and resiliency and develop a pattern of enjoying healthy food in communion with significant others (Larson, 2006, p. 12-13). The benefits of shared family mealtimes also extend outside of the home. When family members engage in more positive interaction patterns at the dinner table, their children are less likely to express problematic behaviors in other settings (Fiese, 2008, p. 75). It seemed important 8

that the interactions were positive, rather than negative. Negative interactions could enable negative behavior. According to Fiese (2008), family climate during mealtimes can either support or derail positive child and adolescent health and wellbeing. When conducted in an organized and responsive manner, youth appear to be better adjusted and healthier overall (p.1). Families as a whole also benefit from shared mealtimes. Mealtimes can form part of the symbolic foundation of family life (Fiese, 2008, p. 78). They provide a time, place and setting for families to convene, share food and converse with one another. Mealtimes can facilitate family interaction, communication and a sense of unity (Cason, 2006, p. 532). Besides mealtimes, meal planning and preparation can also foster feelings of family togetherness. Grocery shopping, preparing, and cooking meals allow families to work together towards a common goal of enjoying a tasty meal together. However, obstacles such as schedules and missing ingredients can arise, which families must organize and overcome in order to continue their shared mealtimes. Families may need help in identifying realistic ways to increase the frequency of family meals, which provides them the opportunity to learn to plan ahead, think creatively and make adjustments to fit their schedule (Cason, 2006, p. 532). We identified three main themes in the articles about the effectiveness of family mealtimes. These themes were continuity, communication and commitment. In order for family mealtimes to be most effective, they should reflect these three themes. According to Fiese (2006), establishing continuity in the dinnertime routine through planning for the future evokes not only a grocery list, but memories of relationships and opportunities to create memories that extend across two or more generations (p. 87). Communication was also important, as it allows for interaction among family members. Commitment to mealtimes was frequently addressed. The number of shared family meals per week that resulted in the greatest advantages was not specified in this area of the literature review. However, this concept was addressed from a nutritional standpoint as being three. Emergence of Technology to Aid in Meal Management A plethora of informative articles existed at the outset of the literature review pertaining to the emerging and available technology and tools that facilitate meal management. Online services, like the Grocery Game, help revamp ... meal planning and grocery shopping by instructing consumers on how to take advantage of store sale cycles using coupons to plan grocery trips and lower food costs (Weber, 2006, para. 2). Online meal planning resources, like Emeals.com, help simplify shopping and cooking by coordinating grocery list[s] that dramatically reduces planning and shopping time (Food & Beverage, 2012, para. 5). The Emeals feature article addressed not only the budgeting issues related to food shopping and preparation by offering meal plans for 9

dinners as low as $2 per person, but also spoke to the nutritional importance of meals served at home by providing plans that offer portion control, low fat and natural and organic fare. Other webbased meal planning tools that offer subscription services include The Six OClock Scramble, Relish, Meal Mixer and Dine Without Whine. These planning and recipe services take the guess work out of preparing nutritious dinner[s] in a relatively quick and uncomplicated manner and range from $4.95 to $14.85 per month in fees (The Food Institute Report, 2007, para. 1). Fortunately, tools like MealEasy.com have shattered the myth that healthful eating is expensive and offer solutions to plan and prepare over 2000 nutritious meal options. The developers of this site are chefs that aim to give people access to a tool they can use to lower their food bills and improve their health and seek to educate consumers on the long term benefits of healthy food preparation (PRWeb Newswire, 2011, para. 9). Veggie-Mon.org is another noteworthy web tool aiming to instill good eating habits in children by educating them on healthy food choices. This article and site also spoke to the theme of family and individual values that are strengthened by eating nutritious fare prepared at home. The information, graphics, games and activities stimulate and motivate young consumers to be involved activists for healthful eating in their home environment (Tillett, 2005). Online resources available to consumers are now crossing over to mobile applications like Ziplist, which provides meal planners with the technology to sync their smartphones, ipads, and online shopping lists and recipes. These features enable users [to] get the information they need for meal planning and grocery shopping instantaneously, which includes searching for recipes according to what is on sale while standing in the store (PRWeb Newswire, 2011, para. 1). It should be noted that arguments existed in the research literature that addressed consumers shrinking food budgets [as being responsible for shifting] choices to cheaper, calorierich, nutrient-poor foods (McCary, 2010, para. 2). Conversely, the author of this article sought to educate consumers on how to achieve nutritious eating on a budget and notes that not planning meals and not creating a shopping list are two mistakes that cost shoppers more in the long run (McCary, 2010, para. 5). Interestingly, as well, there was a study conducted at the University of Minnesota that found women who spent more time on meal preparation did not always eat healthier meals (Addo et al., 2011, para 21). The 1926 participants in this 2008 research, which were recruited via panel lists collected through product registration and subscriptions, constituted women ages 40-60. However, it should be noted that the findings were based on one day food records using a tracking chart and the research suggested nutrition education should encourage home meal preparation while stressing the selection of healthier options (Addo et al., 2011, para. 21). 10

Whether using web-based technology, or a pencil and a simple tracking chart for menu planning, the evidence uncovered in this research suggested that simply pre-planning meals is a key component of [physical, mental and family] nutrition, (Abbot and Byrd-Bredbenner, 2009, para. 1). This is because meal planning is associated with the consumption of more and a wider variety of fruits and vegetables, greater costs savings, as well as the minimization of anxiety and depression associated with chaos at meal time. One might conclude that the attitude individuals and families bring to the table is reflective of shared experiences and becomes bricks in a system of ... values [and] even a mode of communication that todays technological tools for meal planning and preparation are helping to enhance (Gustafsson, 2004, p. 14). Quality of Literature Considering the fact that we embarked on our literature research by only accessing governmental and academic databases, we feel the quality and reliability of the literature we reviewed is trustworthy. The USDA site, which is overseen by a governmental entity in conjunction with subject-matter experts, provided the most current guidelines for eating healthy according to scientific evidence. Books and articles addressing nutrition that were accessible in the Auraria Library tended to be out of date and not reflective of today's nutritional guidelines due to updates to the food pyramid in 2011. The USDA web site provided the most current information on nutrition and, therefore, was the most rigorously reviewed regarding this topic. The Auraria Library and Google Scholar searches we conducted returned results that were academic in nature and meant to inform, not persuade. We also utilized scholarly journal articles, such as those from the Society for Research in Child Development and the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, which have undergone extensive peer-reviews and subject-matter expert reviews prior to their publication. Members of the team made efforts to ensure appropriate methods of researching literature were conducted by following the instructors advice to avoid including opinion pieces within our body of sources. Additionally, we made use of the Auraria Library Chat feature, whereby team members communicated with a librarian in order to effectively search for the most up to date and relevant articles, which lends to the quality of resources we were able to pool. The range of publication dates of the sources we reviewed, which are 2002-2012; lend credence to the research by including recent and relevant information. It is worthy of noting that more than half of the resources were published within the last two years. Due to the unique nature of our action research project, it is not surprising that we did not find studies and/or statistical findings relating to our topic. Therefore, participant information was not available for our review outside of references to studies mentioned within some of the reading 11

material regarding past studies. However, we feel confident that the lack of specific participant and study information does not compromise the quality of our literature, as there were ample academic, peer reviewed and informative feature based articles to supplement our knowledge and guide our research efforts. Gap in Literature As previously noted, we found an abundance of literature surrounding the topics of nutrition and family values as these themes pertain to at-home meal planning and preparation. There was ample literature addressing the availability of technology to aid in meal planning, preparation, and cost were ample, as well. Therefore, much of our literature review results directly addressed the first five questions that we posed prior to undertaking the review. However, we did identify gaps in the literature regarding some aspects of effects of shared family mealtimes. The majority of literature focused on the perceived benefits of shared mealtimes as it concerns children and adolescents, but did not specifically address the potential benefits for adults without children. Although the literature we reviewed did address number of meals recommended from a physically nutritional standpoint, it did not adequately address recommendations on the number of meals per week in order to most effectively impact the family environment. Fiese identified this gap when she stated that one of the limitations in the study of frequency of family mealtimes is that there is no critical number of mealtimes that seems to be essential for healthy outcomes (2008). Additionally, we did not find informative literature concerning questions #6 and #7, which asked how is technology facilitating meal planning, preparation and cost? and how does an online, collaborative environment affect motivation to prepare family meals at home? One may conclude that how technology is facilitating meal planning is addressed in the literature we reviewed, but our group posed this question in hopes of finding actual studies detailing results and data. Our review only uncovered feature pieces meant to inform readers about what tools are available and how they are meant to work. Regardless of repeated and varied input, no keywords returned results on collaborative environments and motivation of at home meal preparation. For these reasons, the Tech Chefs have found a unique niche of research study in which to engage that will not only address how technology aids in meal planning, preparation and cost, but also how a collaborative environment affects the motivation to do so. These identified gaps necessitate our study in order to address, analyze and publish results that may benefit other interested parties. Our study will address these gaps by detailing the quantitative and qualitative findings tracked by our surveys, charts and reflection journals that are available for review on the Tech Chefs blog. We posited that the idea of 12

a collaborative environment as it concerns meal planning and preparation could be a viable offshoot of social networking that motivates and encourages participants to engage in increased at-home meal preparation, which in turn can inspire a turning point in our countrys nutritional and family values. Literature Review Summary The purpose of conducting the literature review was to examine the link between the nutritional importance of home-cooked meals, the benefits of shared family mealtimes, and the use of technology in meal planning. The literature review results produced varying and informative material that not only increased our knowledge regarding these topics, but also guided our research efforts during the data collection process. We now know for certain that in home meal preparation can dramatically affect nutrition and overall health, as well as it positively supports the family environment and the reasons why. The information uncovered during the literature review exposed us to formerly unknown technological tools that aid in planning and preparing meals that reviewed in our blog and, in some cases, utilized at home. More importantly, the Tech Chefs were in a position to address the aspects of our research in which literature was not readily available. Based on the gap in available information, and as a result of conducting our action research, our team intended to address how Web 2.0 technology can aid meal planning, preparation and cost, as well as how an online, collaborative environment affects participant motivation to engage in increased home meal preparation. The literature review served as an enriching starting point that prepared us for our data collection process.

Methods
We designed an action inquiry based research project in order to identify our participants, collect, analyze and interpret our data, as well as to assess the impact of the research on ourselves and our community. The methods we engaged in enabled us to generate knowledgethrough action in order to improve our family meal preparation practice (Koshy, 2010, p. 2). Site Selection and Sampling We selected our participants using what Stringer calls purposeful sampling, where we consciously selected people based on the extent to which an individual is affected by or has an 13

effect on the issue (p. 43). We identified our key stakeholders to be ourselves and our immediate families, whose lives are affected every day by our meal preparations. Our families helped us define and explore the problem and solutions by engaging in our action research. Specifically, our sampling included Sara Lohndorf and her husband, Dawn Turek, her husband and children (ages 2.5 yrs old and 3 months old), and Aimee Willis, her husband and children (ages 6 yrs old and 5 yrs old). Participation by our stakeholders was implied considering the topic and environment of the research. However, as researchers, we encouraged proactive participation by conducting family interviews and taking into account participants preferences when selecting meal ingredients. Also, family discussions and surveys engaged participants and allowed them to voice approval, criticisms or suggestions for improvement, ultimately giving them ownership of the process. Our site selection was primarily our individual homes, the environment where most of the research took place. The informal setting of our homes allowed the researchers to be visible and accessible, and allowed the participants to feel at-ease and able to speak freely (Stringer, p.50). Considering the nature of the action research, which was conducted at home in a family environment, initial contact was not an applicable issue. The families of the three researchers were aware at the onset of research that we were engaging in research to increase our families at home dinner quantity and quality. The impact of research on the participants was multifaceted. For the researchers as participants, we were aware that the sheer work required to implement the research, which involved increased organization and more time spent in the kitchen, was daunting at the onset. However, we received a positive impact of the success because our families observed and participate in a unique experiment that enables positive role modeling and more time spent together. The only negative impact our team experienced was negative participant feedback regarding a disliked entree. This feedback was used as data for the blog and family survey and as a reference for preparing the dish in the future. Data Collection Procedures As made evident by the chart below, all of our action research data was housed under the umbrella of our blog website (www.techchefs.wordpress.com). We decided to use a blogging website, as it allowed us to disseminate information easily. On our blog we posted information including, how to videos, articles of interest concerning the topic of family meals and meal preparation, and recipes from social sites like Pinterest and Allrecipes.com. Throughout our research, the blog served as a hub for our communal data collection, which enabled the team to 14

more easily share information. Our shared blog postings as well as our personal reflection journals provided both qualitative and quantitative data. The use of our blog website also provided us the capability to embed our tracking chart and surveys. These results were graphed and served as qualitative data. The following chart addresses the vehicles we used to gather data, the corresponding type of data, and the methods we used to analyze the data:
Data Gathered Shared Resource Postings (Blog Entries) Type Quantitative Qualitative Method of Analysis

Number and dates of posts calculated and cross referenced with number of days research was conducted. Referenced quantitative results with of self survey question #5 (On a scale from 1-5, with 5 being the most motivational and 1 the least motivational, how would you rate your motivation as a result of team environment and support?) Each member contributed to a daily reflection journal over the course of the research, which was then Coded by Theme - available for review on blog Number of meals cooked per week per team member charted and graphed - refer to Appendix Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 Each team member participated in a 6 question Self Survey before, during and after the research, which is available on the blog. The results were then charted and graphed - refer to Appendix Fig. 3 Family members (participants) engaged in answering 4 Post Meal Survey questions after each home prepared meal, which is available on the blog. The results were cross referenced with Reflection themes Team members tracked the date, cost and number of meals purchased using a Google Spreadsheet embedded in the blog. Results were charted and graphed - refer to Appendix Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 Team members researched and contacted a Subject Matter Expert, in this case a published author that blogs about family meal preparation, and requested an interview. Interview questions were emailed to SME and the responses were cross referenced with Reflection Themes - refer to Appendix Fig. 6 for Interview Questions and Responses

Reflections Journal

Qualitative Quantitative

Self Surveys (Pre/During/Post Research) Post Meal Family Survey

Quantitative

Qualitative

Grocery Tracker (date, cost, number of shopping trips) Subject Matter Expert (SME) Interview

Quantitative

Quantitative

Data Analysis Procedures Using the mixed method of collecting both qualitative and quantitative data, we analyzed both types of data. Data from our post-meal family surveys and personal reflections were analyzed qualitatively to gain a better understanding of our successes and failures in our attempt to improve the processes of meal planning and preparation. Our team categorized and coded our data in order to identify the significant features that make up the experience of the people involved in the study (Stringer 2007, p.98). Using the coding system to analyze our familys responses and individual 15

reflections, we uncovered various trends and recurring themes. We also compared and crossreferenced the SME interview data and our literature review to our established themes. We analyzed the data from our blogs quantitatively. Our self surveys and grocery tracking chart were graphed and analyzed quantitatively in order to visually clarify results. We quantified our data by converting charted responses into a graph in order to coalesce results, which uncovered insightful, and in some cases, surprising trends. Schedule

Date/Date Range: 2/13 - 3/1/2012 2/15/2012 2/19/2012 2/20 - 3/1/2012

Activity: Research Web 2.0 tools Action Research Proposal First Draft Action Research Proposal Final Draft Due Development/creation of Tech Chefs Blog to utilize during research Create/finalize self-surveys Conduct self survey #1 (pre-research) Literature Review Interview of SME (family cooking blogger)

Adaptations: None None None We utilized the Blog throughout our study and continue to develop it currently None None None We received an additional emailed response from one SME on 4/19/12 interested in participating. As of this report, we have not received the second SME responses to the interview questions None None None None

2/25/2012 2/26/2012 2/27 - 3/6/2012 3/1 - 3/31/2012

3/15/2012 3/26 - 4/10/2012 3/31/2012 4/28/2012

Conduct self survey #2 (during research) Data Analysis/Findings Conduct self survey #3 (post-research) FINAL DRAFT of Action Research Report

We found that we did not need to make any major modifications to our proposed schedule while conducting our action research. Our team adhered to the schedule fairly easily and only made adaptations when they pertained to the development of our blog.

Findings
The data we collected and analyzed provided insightful information for each of the research questions we set out to answer. For the sake of clarity and simplicity in reporting our findings, we have organized our data results according to each research question where we discuss the 16

qualitative and/or quantitative data as it pertains to each question. We researched and implemented the use of several Web 2.0 tools to conduct our research and house our data. The following chart lists the data we gathered, the Web 2.0 tool/instrument we utilized, and the research question the collected data was intended to address.

Data Gathered Shared Resource Postings Reflections Journal Self Surveys (Pre/During/Post Research) Post Meal Family Survey Grocery Tracker (date, cost, number of shopping trips) Subject Matter Expert (SME) Interview

Tool/Instrument(s) Wordpress Blog Google Document embedded into Wordpress Blog Google Form (survey) embedded into Wordpress Blog Google Form (survey) embedded into Wordpress Blog Google Spreadsheet embedded into Wordpress Blog Email converted to chart displayed in the Data section of Wordpress Blog

Research Question(s) Addressed 1, 2, 3 1, 2 ,3 1, 2, 3 1, 2 1, 2 1, 2, 3

Question #1: How could we use Web 2.0 tools to improve our planning, purchasing and preparing of five affordable, nutritious dinners per week?
Research question #1 yielded the most information in terms of data, as every data collection method we utilized provided direct or indirect information regarding how we could use technology to improve our meal planning and preparation procedures. The Wordpress blog proved to be highly useful and beneficial as a data-storing and dissemination tool. We reviewed our reflections data quantitatively, as we contributed to this daily via an embedded Google document. Our daily reflections provided excellent data on our goals and progress in answering question #1. Refer to the chart in Fig.1 below, as well as the enlarged image in the Appendix and Fig. 2 graph, for a visual representation of the data. Our data revealed that each team member prepared a home-cooked meal twenty-five out of the thirty-three days between the dates of February 27th to March 30th.

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Fig. 1 Chart - Number of Meals Cooked by Day of Week per Team Member

It became evident that utilizing technology in the form of our daily blog to track and reflect on family meal preparation enabled each team member to reach the communal goal of planning, purchasing and preparing at least five family meals per week during the five-week research period. In addition, verbal communication among the team members provided qualitative evidence which consistently proved that accountability played a large role in our inspiration and motivation to stay on task, contribute data and share reflections and resources. The embedded Google spreadsheet we used to track grocery shopping data provided evidence concerning how technology aids in the planning phase of meal preparation. The act of tracking the number of trips to the store, food costs and the number of meals planned over the fiveweek research period gave team members an increased awareness of their costs and activity. Charting and graphing this information, as seen in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 of the Appendix, provided quantitative data which addresses not only the five-week history, but also qualitative insight regarding areas for improvement. For example, Aimee discovered that she could improve upon her number of meals planned per week, and Sara realized her total food costs and average cost per meal were much higher than she had expected. These qualitative realizations speak directly to the look, think, act cycle which team members can continue to implement in order to improve the planning process of meal preparation (Stringer, 2007, p.9). The Post Meal Family Survey, collected through an embedded Google form on the Wordpress blog, generated a spreadsheet view of all the responses and related data. The surveys referenced the preparation aspect of research question #1. The Post Meal Family Survey provided qualitative feedback that addressed how team members could reflect (think) and act on their future meal

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preparation. The following examples are critiques each team member received which could improve future meal preparation to better meet participants requests: Example 1:The pork chop was a little thick would have preferred a thinner cut. Example 2: Don't put the yucky cheese in the eggs, more strawberries and less cantaloupe. Example 3: I would add some avocado and maybe make some fries with it. The Self Survey data, also collected through an embedded Google form, provided both qualitative and quantitative data which addressed how technology aids in meal planning and preparation. See below snapshot of graphed data, and refer to Fig. 3 in the Appendix for a detailed view of the data in its entirety. One of the major findings was that the number of meals each team member cooked per week increased from 3-4 initially, to 5 or more over the course of the fiveweek research. Fig 3. Self Survey Data (Graph of Question #3)

This increase can be attributed to the team members increased use of technology to organize and track meal planning and preparation. The number of shopping trips per week was also affected by the organizing and tracking through technology. The number of shopping trips were reduced from 3-4 times per week initially, to 1-2 during the research time frame. There was also a slight improvement in the budgeted grocery amount for the weekly shopping trip to cover the costs of at least five home prepared meals. Although one team members response remained constant at $101 or more for each of the three surveys, two team members responses dropped from $101 or more and $51-75 to $76-100 and $51-75, respectively. There were areas of the research that did not show notable improvements as a result of the use of technology. These included the perceived ability of cooking skills, which team members personally ranked over the course of the research. All team members self-ranked cooking abilities 19

remained at a 3 to 4 score, out of a possible 5, with 5 being the best cooking skills. Another relatively unaffected area was budgeted amount of weekly grocery costs, which were meant to cover the cost of at least five meals. The question, does the budgeted amount....cover the grocery costs for at least five meals for the week was answered overwhelmingly Yes in each of the three surveys per team member. This indicates that either technology did not particularly affect this area, or that team members were proficient in this area prior to conducting research. Ultimately, the team members feel they adequately addressed and answered research question #1 and have all gained valuable experience utilizing Web 2.0 technology in their meal planning and preparation.

Question #2: Which Web 2.0 tools would most effectively aid in our tracking, planning and preparing of meals?
Unlike the other two research questions, this question required additional background research to determine which technologies were available and which ones would best serve our purposes. After conducting web searches and reviewing various smart phone applications, we decided to implement a Wordpress site that would enable us to share information via blog postings, embed documents which housed our surveys, reflections and charts, as well as embed documents which displayed our proposal, literature review and data analysis. We utilized Google documents for the reflections, proposal, literature review and data, a Google spreadsheet for tracking grocery information and Google forms for our Self and Post Family Meal Surveys. The table below outlines each tool we implemented and how it was utilized.

Tool Wordpress Blogging Website www.techchefs.wordpress.com Gmail techchefs@gmail.com Google Docs Google Spreadsheet Google Forms

Use Resource Sharing Central location for all embedded documents Shared email for Google document creation Reflections Record - embedded Grocery Tracker - embedded Self Survey - embedded Post Meal Family Survey - embedded

The success and effectiveness of the chosen technological tools was evident by the participation and contributions of the team members to the blog, surveys and reflections during the course of the research. There was no specific quantitative data to report since the question was 20

qualitative in nature as it concerned which Web 2.0 tools most effectively aided in our research. However, indirect qualitative data exists regarding the effectiveness of the chosen tools as made evident by the amount of data we were able to collect and analyze in order to track our progress and answer research questions #1 and #3.

Question #3: How did having an online support network improve our teams planning, purchasing and preparing of five affordable, nutritious dinners per week?
Although the majority of the data we collected for this question was qualitative, some quantitative data was reviewed in order to provide evidence of an online support network and its contribution to meal preparation procedures. Quantitatively, we considered the number of blog postings which totaled twenty-six blog entries during the thirty-three day period. This translates into a posting every 1.27 days and supports the notion that the team members felt a sense of community during their research and enjoyed sharing reflections and resources. The blog posting entries also offered qualitative data which supported a mutual, connected environment. For example, responses to recipe postings such as, Yum! I am Irish I will try this [recipe for corned beef and cabbage]! and Okay I tried this recipe [for croissant wrapped hot dogs] and my kids said it was the best thing they had ever eaten! are evidence that sharing resources in an online environment improved meal preparation procedures. Self Survey question 6 provided quantitative evidence of community, support and improvement in meal planning and preparation. Team members responses indicate a level 4 or 5 out of a possible 5 consistently in each of the three surveys, with a slight incline in the second and third survey in terms of their motivation as a result of the team environment and support. Refer to Fig. 3, question 6 in the Appendix for visual representation of the data. In order to analyze the large amount of written data that the daily reflections provided, we implemented the qualitative coding system, which uncovered 4 recurring themes as they concerned time management, motivation, preparation, support, benefits of shared meal time, family values and the possible use of technology. Each theme is supported with sample quotes from team members to exemplify the theme. The reflections, themes and illustrative quotes provide insight into how an online support network improved the experience of meal planning and preparation through sharing and reflecting on our shared experiences. Refer to the blog website in order to review the Reflections Journal in detail, which includes color coded themes.

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Theme 1: Pleasant Experience with Positive Outcome

This theme appeared was often a result of a successfully prepared meal that met with participant approval. Quotes that exemplify and support researchers meal preparation pleasant experiences with positive outcomes include: BLTs and Corn on the Cobb - never had this combo together, but since ingredients were on sale, I paired this up as a meal. It worked great. Everyone really liked their meal... My boys love their cheeseburgers, so being very bored and not a big fan of cheeseburgers I made sloppy joes for the first time ever. I cant remember the last time I ate one?! Lol. Again it was a hit with the boys. I had to eat a big salad on the side :) I picked up tortillas, guacamole, and a rotisserie chicken. I was able to quickly throw together some shredded chicken burritos with black beans and brown rice when I got home - Delish! Team members verbally discussed how reading one anothers postings in this theme category served as an incentive to try new recipes that were successful for other team members.

Theme 2: Frustrating Effort with Negative Outcome

This theme appeared most often when there was a lack of preparation time, lack of motivation or a poorly planned meal, any of which resulted in an unsuccessful meal experience. Quotes that exemplify and support this theme include: Went shopping but only picked up a few items as it was late and we were tired. Will probably run out of food midweek... I decided to get fancy and bought some Neufchatel cheese and cooked it in the scrambled eggs. Although I really liked it, the other three participants did not. Made the Trader Joes organic roast with fresh steamed asparagus and buttered corn. Meat was not a hit - my husband said he does not like this cut of meat and would not like it, again. My youngest would not touch the meat, but ate a ton of corn. While these negative experiences were frustrating at the time, team members found it comforting to read and reflect on the others failed efforts and realized they were not alone in their endeavors and experiences concerning home meal preparation. The online support also provided insight into what didnt work for other teammates. 22

Theme 3: Stay Positive and Learn from the Experience

This theme was mostly the result of time management and motivation issues recorded in journal entries. Team members discussed their interest in reading one anothers entries which concerned this theme, as it provided written insight into how members were coping with research and implementation stress. Quotes that exemplify and support this theme include: My brothers birthday tonight - my parents took us all out to The Melting Pot = fondue. Yum! First fondue experience for my kids and they loved it. Maybe we can do this at home. I was supposed to cook tonight - oops! Leftover night :( Very boring but we have to do it! To save money and food! Got home late from work and my husband only had 30 minutes before he had to go to work. We had veggie burgers - added some goat cheese and avocado. This theme also reflected how the online support network motivated team members as they gave the research their best effort. This theme could be considered a universally qualitative theme for action research, as it is important to stay positive, learn from the experience, and continue the look, think, act cycle (Stringer, 2007, p.9).

Theme 4: Community Support

This theme spoke mostly to the motivation and support which team members felt amongst each other (the team) and within their larger community. When reflections were shared for each others benefit, as well as when a meal was prepared for a larger gathering (friends and family), motivation and support were at their peak. Quotes that exemplify and support this theme include: We were invited to our friends house that has boys the same age as ours. They cooked hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill with all the trimmings. I made a big salad corn cheese macaroni and ...berries It was really good and everyone enjoyed the food and time together. ...she introduced me to an AWESOME idea...Sara I hope you are reading this it is perfect for eating for two. My friend buys little disposable aluminum baking tins with lids. She then makes things that are hard to make small portions such as lasagna and enchiladas and put them in the little tins and freezes them... I feel that my motivation to prepare meals has increased due to the group dynamic. The tracking of meals and group participation made me more accountable. 23

The community support theme revealed that sharing reflections in an online environment improved the process of meal preparation. Aspects of the Subject Matter Expert interview addressed research question #3, as our team performed research concerning professional family meal blogging and considered bloggers on this topic to be an extension of our online support network. We extended invitations to four noteworthy blogging experts. We received a response from one person who is also a published author on the topic of family meal preparation and is referred to as the Naptime Chef. Through researching, reviewing and corresponding with a member of the blogging community, our team was inspired and motivated, which we consider qualitative evidence. By accessing and utilizing information contained in these blogs, we improved our meal preparation by sharing useful tips, resources and recipes. The interview also provided the team with time-saving strategies such as, I love to cook when my daughter is napping or at school. This response addresses research question #3 as it details how we could manage our time to prepare better meals. Our Subject Matter Expert also provided insight into keeping family meals on budget by planning day to day [and] not overbuy[ing]. [She is] sure to eat all leftover and freeze portions of what [is not eaten]. This response addresses how a member of our online support network purchases and prepares affordable meals, which also references research question #3. Please refer to Fig. 6 in the Appendix for the SME interview in its entirety. Reliability and Validity In order to add credibility to our findings, we used the methods of prolonged engagement and triangulation. We received feedback from our participants at regular and agreed-upon intervals throughout the project in order to allow participants to express their opinions over an extended period of time, which consisted of a five-week research time frame. We also gathered data from multiple sources, including each of the three researchers family participants and a Subject Matter Expert, which allowed us to compare and contrast our results and added credibility to our data. Our research is transferable, as we will continue to share our results via the Tech Chefs blog with the online community in hopes that other interested parties can apply aspects of our research to their situation. For dependability, we have conducted a final inquiry audit on our research and described the procedures we used at length within this Findings narrative. Considering our research was documented using a weblog, it is easily confirmable since all research and data artifacts are available and on display for review by outside observers who can test its validity. According to Stringer, credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability are assessments that establish 24

valid and reliable findings (Stringer, 2007, p. 57-59). In our action research experience, this guidance proved beneficial, as we were able to use these assessments to check for rigor throughout the inquiry process. Comparison of Research to the Literature Review The qualitative themes that emerged from our Reflections Journal proved to be subtopics of the Benefits of Shared Mealtimes and their Effect on Families and Individuals literature review theme. The Pleasant Experience with Positive Outcome, Frustrating Effort with Negative

Outcome and Stay Positive and Learn from the Experience Reflection Journal themes spoke to the
effects of mealtime on families and individuals. The SME provided supportive information on this theme, as well. For example, she noted that We always ate together as a family growing up and now I do the same with mine, which speaks to the benefits and tradition of shared mealtimes and their effect on families. Additionally, she aimed to cook 5 meals per week, a number reflected in our literature review as an ideal amount of family meal times per week to reap the most benefits based on the AAP studies that suggest a minimum of three meals per week together to boost nutritional benefit (Hammons and Fiese, 2012). Considering the abundance of information we found regarding the literature review themes of Nutritional Importance of Meals Cooked at Home and the Benefits of Shared Mealtimes and their Effect on Families and Individuals, most of our research efforts focused on addressing the gap in the Emergence of Technology to Aid in Meal Management. Our research questions specifically addressed this theme, and our findings uncovered and clarified many aspects of just how technology could improve meal planning and preparation. The Community Support qualitative findings theme that appeared repeatedly in the Reflection Journal was directly related to how technology could aid in meal management via an online support network. Additionally, web based surveys, grocery tracking charts, reflections and blog postings were all case in point data collection devices that cross referenced the findings theme of Community Support and the literature review theme of Emergence of Technology to Aid in Meal Management. These Web 2.0 tools supported literature review findings and helped team members simplify shopping and cooking using technology (Food & Beverage, 2012). Differences existed between our findings and the literature review in that most of our research and data did not focus on collecting more information about the nutritional importance of meals cooked at home. There was an exhaustive amount of literature available on this topic to which we did not feel it necessary to contribute more information. Team members entered into the research with a good understanding and practice of preparing nutritionally sound meals for their 25

families. Additionally, several of the Subject Matter Experts responses were surprising and did not fall in line with our research topic. For example, the SME preferred not to use technology for meal planning and preparation because, in her opinion, it took the fun out of cooking. Our research is important because very little information exists in regards to how technology and an online network can inspire, motivate and support family meal planning and preparation. What you cook, how often you cook, what you spend on groceries and how you feel about cooking for family are intimate topics. The environment in which we conducted research was our homes and the subjects of our research were our families. Therefore, sharing personal data, trials and triumphs on this research topic is truly unique, complementary to our literature review, as well as it fills the gap in information available on the subject. Limitations Because of the personal nature of our action research inquiry, we faced a few common limitations. One factor, which could have limited the reliability of our research, was the use of our immediate family members as our research participants. We selected our family members because they were the primary stakeholders affected by our research inquiry; however, this meant that we were not able to take a random sampling of participants to ensure validity. Our families may have stated that they were providing honest and unbiased feedback, but there was no way for us to ensure that this was the case. Another limitation to our research was the content, or lack thereof, of the post meal family survey questions. The survey contained two open-ended questions and two closed-ended questions, all of which were limited to opinions regarding the overall taste of the meal. We felt that the self-survey was limiting in that it did not address how the team utilized technology. This meant that we did not have any questions relating to our second research question, which was Which Web 2.0 tools would most effectively aid in our tracking, planning and preparing of meals? The scope of our research was limited by time and resource restraints. For these reasons, we were not able to track the effects of shared family mealtimes on family dynamics. The research team did not track the amount of time spent planning and preparing meals. This factor would have been helpful in tracking time management and examining whether or not technology helped increase efficiency. Additionally, our inquiry did not address the nutritional value of our meals. If we were to continue Stringers look, think, act cycle, in which we work with our families to plan tasks and activities, implement them, sustain them, and evaluate them, our time management, use of technology and measurement of the nutritional value of the meals served would be tracked and incorporated into the study (Stringer 2007, p.143). However, our study is still valuable due to the 26

unique information it presented concerning technology, online community support and family meal preparation. Findings Summary Our teams research experience yielded many positive outcomes. We applied best practices in shopping habits, which decreased the number of trips to the grocery store and increased the number of available ingredients, a trend we hope will continue long after the research phase has ended. More importantly, we have enhanced our family environment by establishing a positive presence in the kitchen and emphasizing the importance of family mealtime. Each team member found that contributing our personal reflections and maintaining a shared blog increased our motivation surrounding meal planning and preparation. It is possible that cultural differences could impede or interfere with how others interpret the importance of our research or the findings in this narrative. However, we conclusively found Web 2.0 tools useful in improving our purchasing, planning and preparing of meals, as well as enhancing our motivation as a result of the online support network we established.

Implications for Practice

The Tech Chefs can offer several recommendations based on our findings. We have found that utilizing a support network is beneficial to the process of family meal preparation. For those individuals that find shopping for and preparing family meals daunting, having a support group that you can share resources, information and reflections with can serve to inspire and motivate. We found that tracking and reflecting upon meal planning is an effective strategy that can be used to improve daily meals. Additionally, the act of simply pre-planning meals and going to the store with a shopping list resolves many issues surrounding preparedness, cost and motivation. Our experience conclusively proved that shared mealtimes have many positive benefits for all participating family members. Eating with the family gives everyone an opportunity to reconnect, share stories, and strengthens personal bonds and as the literature review revealed, we suggest endeavoring to share at least five home cooked family meals per week. Limited information was available regarding online support communities and how they benefit family meal planning and preparation. This is an area that deserves more research based on our findings. Additional research is also needed concerning how emerging Web 2.0 tools impact family meal planning. It would be interesting to continue our research and focus on expanding our 27

meal selection and explore areas such as couponing and special diets. Additionally, it would be informative to repeat this study with participants from an older generation, which would supplement our findings and provide an alternative perspective on the role of technology and community support in family meal planning and preparation.

Conclusion
As researchers, we set out to improve the process of family meal preparation by researching and implementing technological tools and building an online support network. Maintaining a blog, utilizing social sites to research and share information, and collecting and reporting data using an online tracking system has sharpened our Web 2.0 skills, which will help us personally and professionally. Web 2.0 technology is infiltrating many aspects of daily life, and our research has provided us the opportunity to select, implement and utilize valuable tools that provided us structure and housed data for further reflection on our process of inquiry. As a result, we have concluded this research with the understanding that we can utilize Web 2.0 technology to improve many other processes in our lives, as well. This research provides data and information that fills a gap in the current literature regarding several facets of the research topic, including how web technology and an online support network can improve family meal preparation. Conducting this research has provided us the opportunity to solve a practical problem while improving our everyday processes. We posit that the information and results gleaned in this action research process will be valuable to other interested parties that are looking for pertinent information on community, technology and family meal preparations. More importantly, through engaging our key stakeholders, we received feedback from and improved a process involving the most valuable people in our lives, our families.

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Weinstein. The Surprising Power of Family Meals: How Eating Together Makes U Smarter, Stronger, Healthier, and Happier. Steer Forth Press, 2005 Wiseman, Gerald (2002). Nutrition and Health. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis

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Appendix A - Surveys

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Appendix B Data Visuals Fig 1 - Chart: Number of Meals Cooked by Day of Week per Team Member

Fig 2 - Graph of Fig. 1: Number of Meals Cooked by Day of Week per Team Member

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Fig 3 - Self Survey Data Chart and Graphs by Question

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Fig 4 - Chart: Grocery Tracker

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Fig 5 - Graph of Fig 4 Chart: Grocery Tracker

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Fig 6 - SME Interview Questions and Responses

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