Overweight and average-weight children equally responsive to "Kids Choice Program" to increase fruit and vegetable consumption

Secondary analyses were conducted for children participating in the school-based Kids Choice Program [Hendy, H. M., Williams, K., & Camise, T. (2005). "Kids Choice" school lunch program increases children's fruit and vegetable acceptance. Appetite, 45, 250-263.] to examine whether fruit and vegetable consumption and preference ratings by overweight and average-weight children within the original sample were equally responsive to the program. The Kids Choice Program produced increased fruit and vegetable consumption by both overweight and average-weight children that lasted throughout the month-long program, while avoiding "over-justification" drops in later fruit and vegetable preference ratings. We believe that the Kids Choice Program shows promise for encouraging overweight children to improve nutrition and weight management behaviors while in their everyday peer environment.     

Fourth-grade children's consumption of fruit and vegetable items available as part of school lunches is closely related to preferences

OBJECTIVE: To use data from observations and interviews to document fourth-graders' preferences for, and consumption of, fruits compared to vegetables available as part of school lunches. DESIGN: Observations and interviews were conducted for studies regarding the impact of time interval between eating and reporting on the accuracy of children's school lunch recalls. SUBJECTS/SETTINGS: Children were recruited from up to 4 schools in one district during 3 school years; 63% agreed to participate. Randomly selected children (n = 237) were each observed eating school lunch once and were interviewed (regarding items eaten and preferences for items eaten) within 11/2 hours or the next morning. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Observed consumption of servings of items available as part of school lunch was recorded as none, taste, little bit, half, most, and all. Response options for preferences for items available as part of school lunch were liked not at all, a little, and a lot. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Mixed-model analysis of variance. RESULTS: Preferences were higher for fruits than vegetables. As preferences increased, consumption increased (P <.0001). Consumption of fruits compared to vegetables was similar after adjusting for preferences. IMPLICATIONS: Research is needed to understand how to increase children's preferences for vegetables as a means of increasing consumption.     

Promoting consumption of fruit in elementary school cafeterias. The effects of slicing apples and oranges

We examined how slicing apples and oranges affected elementary students’ selection and consumption of fruit. Slicing increased the percentage of children selecting and consuming oranges, while a similar effect was not found for apples. The impact of slicing fruit was greatest among younger students. These findings suggest that school cafeterias can increase accessibility and consumption of foods through simple, inexpensive food preparation techniques, with the impact of such measures varying by foods and student characteristics.     

Amounts served and consumed of school lunch differed by gender in Japanese elementary schools

School lunches serve to improve nutritional status and to promote the health of children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the portion sizes of school lunches served and consumed in Japanese elementary schools. In addition, gender difference in servings and consumption were also studied. A cross-sectional study was undertaken between October 2007 and February 2008 in schools located in Tokyo and Okayama, Japan. A total of 192 fifth-grade children attending four elementary schools participated in this study. Weighed plate waste methods and observation were used to collect dietary data for two non-consecutive days. The proportion of children who chose staple foods along with main dishes and/or side dishes for at least one day was higher in boys than in girls (respectively, for staple food: 42.1% vs. 9.3%, for main dish and/or side dish: 68.4% vs. 44.3%, P < 0.001). The ratio of initial amount served to amount offered was 0.88 ± 0.11 for boys and 0.84 ± 0.10 for girls (P < 0.05). The ratio of amount consumed to amount offered was 1.04 ± 0.19 for boys and 0.88 ± 0.12 for girls (P < 0.001). Weight was related to amount consumed both in boys (r = 0.222, P < 0.05) and in girls (r = 0.201, P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the nutritional standards of school lunch programs should take into account gender differences. Clearly, boys were more likely to consume more than the initial amounts served due to their higher propensity to take second helpings. Boys feel few reservations about taking second helpings to adjust their total intake. However, school lunch plans should take into consideration girls'' reluctance to do so, by serving appropriate initial portion sizes.     

Sex differences in fruit and vegetable intake in older adults

Fruits and vegetables are important components of a healthy diet, but intakes in most Western countries are well below the recommended five servings a day. Men in particular are eating too little. The aim of this study is to understand the processes underlying this gender difference. Fruit and vegetable intake, nutrition knowledge, taste preferences, attitudes to fruit and vegetable intake, and dieting status, were assessed in a simple questionnaire in 1,024 older adults attending population-based cancer screening across the UK. The results confirmed the pattern of men consuming fewer servings of fruit and vegetables daily than women (2.52 vs 3.47; p<0.01). Fewer men than women knew the current recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake, and fewer were aware of the links between fruit and vegetable consumption and disease prevention. Women rated their liking for vegetables but not fruit higher, and there were no differences in attitudes. Men were less likely to be dieting to lose weight. Multivariate analysis showed that the gender difference in intake was substantially attenuated by controlling for nutrition knowledge. There were no significant attenuating effects of preferences, attitudes or dieting status. These results indicate that men's poorer nutrition knowledge explains a significant part of their lower intake of fruit and vegetables.     

Food prices and fruit and vegetable consumption among young American adults

Multivariate negative binomial count models were estimated to examine associations between young adults’ fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and the prices of FV, other food at home grocery items, and fast food and the availability of restaurants and food stores. This study used the 2002 wave of data collected from US young adults aged 18–23 years in the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth merged by geocode identifiers with food prices and restaurant and food store availability. The results showed that higher levels of FV consumption were associated with lower FV prices (price elasticity of −0.32) and that this own-price effect was robust to the inclusion of other food prices and food outlet availability. Lower income and lower educated young adults and those with lower educated mothers and middle-income parents were found to be most price sensitive. No statistically significant cross-price effects on FV consumption were found with other grocery food (meat, dairy and bread) prices or fast food prices. Fiscal policy instruments such as FV subsidies may help to increase FV intake, particularly among young adults of lower socioeconomic status.     

Sisters in health: experiential program emphasizing social interaction increases fruit and vegetable intake among low-income adults

Sisters in Health, a nutrition education program aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income women, includes active food experiences, positive social settings, a flexible meeting series, and small-group facilitation by paraprofessionals. The program's impact was evaluated in a nonrandom sample of 269 low-income adults in 32 intervention and 10 control groups in New York State using a quasi-experimental, pre-/postprogram evaluation design. Intervention groups reported increased fruit and vegetable consumption, measured by a brief screener, of 1.6 times a day (versus 0.8 times in the control groups) and were 0.44 times more likely to be eating fruits and vegetables 5 or more times a day (P < .05) than control groups. Group support, taste, and food skill experiences can be effective for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.     

Differences in fruit and vegetable exposure and preferences among adolescents receiving free fruit and vegetable snacks at school

Low fruit and vegetable (FV) intakes are associated with excess body weight. The United States Department of Agriculture sponsors a Free Fruit and Vegetable Program in schools whereby students receive free FV snacks daily. This study assessed whether the program improved student exposure to and preferences for FV in a Houston high school in 2006–2007. Anonymous, post-intervention only FV exposure and preference surveys were completed by 2000 intervention school students and 1600 students in a comparison school during May, 2007. Differences in FV exposure and preferences were assessed, as well as differences in preferences between those students who tasted the item for the first time at school compared to those who had tasted the item before. The comparison school average scores for prior FV exposure and vegetable preferences were significantly higher than the intervention school scores. Intervention school students who had tasted the item previously reported significantly higher preferences than students who had tasted it for the first time at school. Access to the Free Fruit and Vegetable Program did not appear to improve high school student reported FV exposure and preferences. Future research should investigate the connection between food exposure, preferences and consumption in adolescents.     

Nutrient intake and nutritional status indicators of participant and nonparticipant pupils of a parent-supported school lunch program in Kenya

ObjectiveTo compare nutrient intake and indicators of nutritional status of western Kenyan pupil participants and nonparticipants of a parent-supported school lunch program.DesignPupils and their caregivers were interviewed to assess their 24-hour dietary intake and the socioeconomic status of the family. Pupils' weights and heights were measured.SettingEight randomly selected schools with parent-supported school lunch programs in Emuhaya, western Kenya.Participants320 pupils aged between 10 and 12 years in Standard 5 and Standard 6 were disaggregated into school lunch participants (n = 160) and nonparticipants (n = 160).Main Outcome MeasuresPupils' energy and protein intake; nutritional status indicators; household socioeconomic characteristics.AnalysisIndependent t test for comparison of group means; chi-square for socioeconomic characteristics. Level of significance was P = .05.ResultsEnergy and protein consumption of participants was higher than that of the nonparticipants. Severe underweight, severe stunting, and severe wasting were significantly higher among the nonparticipants. Hunger and a higher absenteeism rate from school were more commonly reported among the nonparticipants.Conclusions and ImplicationsThis study demonstrates the interaction of poverty, nutrition status, and education. To improve the nutritional status and academic performance of the students whose parents cannot afford to participate in school lunch programs, funding from external sources is essential.     

Women of lower educational attainment have lower food involvement and eat less fruit and vegetables

Women who leave school with few or no educational qualifications are less likely to have diets that meet current recommendations than women who attain more qualifications at school. We hypothesise that lower 'food involvement', meaning that food has a lower level of importance in their lives, explains the poorer quality diets of women of lower educational attainment. We administered Bell and Marshall [(2003). The construct of food involvement in behavioral research: Scale development and validation. Appetite, 40, 235-244.] Food Involvement scale to 242 women of varied educational attainment, of whom 127 were also asked how often they ate fruit and vegetables. Women's food involvement decreased with decreasing educational attainment. Forty-two percent of women who had no educational qualifications were in the lowest quarter of the food involvement score, compared with 12% of women with degrees. Women with lower scores on the food involvement scale also reported eating fruit and vegetables less often. The odds of eating fewer fruit and vegetables rose with lower educational attainment and with lower food involvement scores, suggesting that each has an independent effect. We have shown that the Food Involvement scale discriminates between women, is associated with other characteristics and predicts dietary quality. We now plan to use it in a larger, representative population of women of lower educational attainment to examine its role along with other psychological variables in determining dietary quality.     

Parent food purchases as a measure of exposure and preschool-aged children's willingness to identify and taste fruit and vegetables

This study explored whether parents who purchase more fruit/vegetables have preschool-aged children who are able to identify fruit/vegetables and in turn are more likely to consume them. Sixty-two parent-child pairs were recruited during a 4-month period. The data collection included a child interview, a parent/guardian interview, a fruit/vegetable taste test for children, and a month-long food-receipt collection by the parent/guardian. As the percentage of fruit/vegetables purchased by parent increased, the child was more likely to accept all of the fruit/vegetables offered to him/her. A weak correlation was found between the child's ability to name fruit/vegetables and their willingness to try the fruit/vegetables offered. A trend was established between the child's ability to name the 10 fruits/vegetables and parent fruit/vegetable purchases. Parents who purchased the most fruit/vegetables, causing increased exposure, had children who were more willing to taste the fruit/vegetables offered to them.     

青少年水果蔬菜摄入行为的家庭环境因素分析

目的 了解青少年水果/蔬菜摄入行为的家庭环境影响因素,为进行有效的营养环境干预提供依据.方法 采用方便随机整群抽样方法,选取北京、辽宁、贵州城乡小学四年级至高中三年级的3 165名学生作为研究对象,进行问卷调查.结果 中小学生水果摄入达标率为24.2％,蔬菜摄入达标率为44.1％.水果摄入不足的家庭环境危险因素包括缺乏父母的帮助(OR=1.230)、家庭允许规矩差(OR=1.161)、家庭可及性差(OR=1.506);蔬菜摄人不足的家庭环境危险因素包括蔬菜的家庭可及性差(OR=1.181)、母亲受教育水平低(OR=1.117).结论 家庭环境是中小学生水果/蔬菜摄人的重要影响因素.对青少年水果/蔬菜摄人行为进行干预,应注意改善家庭营养环境.     

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and Requests for Fruits and Vegetables Outside School Settings

Background

Consumption of fruits and vegetables (F/V) among elementary school-aged children remains inadequate, especially among low-income children. The US Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides F/V as snacks to children during the school day, outside of school meals. School-based initiatives are successful in changing behaviors in school settings; however, their influence on behaviors outside of schools needs investigation.

Decaying behavioral effects in a randomized, multi-year fruit and vegetable intake intervention

Objective

To examine the effects of a multi-component, theory-based, 2.5-year intervention on children's fruit and vegetable consumption, preferences, knowledge and body mass index.

Methods

Four inner city elementary schools in the Northeastern United States were randomized to an intervention (n = 149) or control group (n = 148) in 2005. Fruit and vegetable consumption during school lunch (measured by plate waste), preferences, and knowledge, as well as body mass index, were assessed five times across 3.5 years (pre-intervention, spring 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009). Hierarchical linear modeling was used to analyze program outcomes.

Results

At the first post-test assessment, children in the experimental group ate 0.28 more servings/lunch of fruit and vegetable relative to children in the control group and changes in fruit and vegetable consumption were found in each year throughout the program. However, this effect declined steadily across time so that by the delayed one-year follow-up period there was no difference between the groups in fruit and vegetable consumption. There were persistent intervention effects on children's knowledge. There were no effects on fruit and vegetable preferences and body mass index throughout the study.

Conclusion

Although there was initial fruit and vegetable behavior change, annual measurements indicated a gradual decay of behavioral effects. These data have implications for the design of school-based fruit and vegetable interventions.     

Do perceptions of the neighbourhood food environment predict fruit and vegetable intake in low-income neighbourhoods?

The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which perceptions of the quality, variety and affordability of local food retail provision predict fruit and vegetable intake. Secondary analysis of baseline data from the Philadelphia Neighbourhood Food Environment Study was undertaken. This study investigating the role of the neighbourhood food environment on diet and obesity comprised a random sample of households from two low-income Philadelphia neighbourhoods, matched on socio-demographic characteristics and food environment. The analytic sample comprised adult men and women aged 18–92 (n=1263). Perception of the food environment was measured using five related dimensions pertaining to quality, choice and expense of local food outlets and locally available fruits and vegetables. The outcome, portions of fruits and vegetables consumed per day, was measured using the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire. Results from multivariate regression analyses suggest that measured dimensions of perceived neighbourhood food environment did not predict fruit and vegetable consumption. Further investigation of what constitutes an individual′s ‘true’ food retail environment is required.     

Stability of vitamin C in fruit and vegetable homogenates stored at different temperatures

Vitamin C loss was compared in homogenized raw broccoli, potatoes, spinach, strawberries, oranges, and tomatoes; baked potatoes; steamed broccoli and spinach; and pasteurized orange juice after storage under residual nitrogen under refrigeration, and frozen at conventional (−10 to −20 °C) and ultra-low (<−55 °C) temperatures for 1, 3, and 7 days. Additional foods (cantaloupe, green sweet peppers, collard greens, clementines) were monitored for 3–4 years at <−55 °C. Total ascorbic acid was quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography and detailed quality control measures. No decrease occurred in any of the foods after 7 days at <−55 °C. Under refrigeration the largest decreases were in raw spinach and broccoli, averaging (mg/100 g) 9.5 (29%) and 33.1 (29%), respectively, after 1 day and 31.0 and 77.0 after 7 days (94% and 68%, respectively). With conventional freezing, vitamin C was stable for 7 days in most of the products studied; minor losses occurred in raw spinach and broccoli after 1 day but were substantial after 3 days, 6.9 mg/100 g (23%) and 17.0 mg/100 g (15%), respectively; and 7 days (13.1 and 32.0 mg/100 g). For homogenates stored long-term at <−55 °C, vitamin C loss occurred in only cantaloupe, collard greens, and one sample of raw potatoes, all before 50 weeks.     

Individual and familial factors associated with fruit and vegetable intake among 11‐ to 14‐year‐old Romanian school children

The healthy nutrition guidelines proposed by international research institutes and the World Health Organization recommend a daily intake of fruit and vegetables of at least 400 g, representing five servings a day (each serving contains around 80 g). Moreover, the recommendations stress the importance of consuming both fruit and vegetables daily, preferably at least two portions of fruit and three portions of vegetables per day. To efficiently develop interventions for promoting fruit and vegetable consumption among children, it is essential to identify and understand the factors that influence these behaviours. The present study aims at identifying the individual and familial factors which influence fruit and vegetable consumption among Romanian children. A cross‐sectional survey by means of anonymous questionnaires was conducted among 361 school children, aged 11–14, from Cluj‐Napoca, Romania (April–May 2011). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the correlates of fruit and vegetable intake. The results show that 44.6% of the children met the recommendations regarding fruit intake, while 9.1% of the children declared eating the daily recommended portions of vegetables. Knowledge regarding the recommended number of daily servings and higher self‐efficacy concerning the intake of fruit and vegetables every day were positively associated with higher consumption of fruit and vegetables. Fruit preference also influenced positively the consumption of fruit. The familial factor associated with vegetable intake was the perceived behaviour of the mother, while fruit intake was higher among children who declared higher fruit availability at home. Hence, it is necessary to develop in Romania nutrition interventions addressing the determinants of fruit and vegetable intake as identified by this study; these interventions should target both children and parents.     

Availability of micronutrients from dried, encapsulated fruit and vegetable preparations: a study in healthy volunteers

Background High levels of consumption of fruit and vegetables, which contain antioxidant nutrients including vitamins C and E as well as β‐carotene, are associated with reduced rates of atherosclerotic arterial disease and some cancers. Low plasma levels of these micronutrients are associated with an increased risk of chronic degenerative disease. While increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables would be desirable, many factors including cost tend to prevent this. Preparations of the active components of fruit and vegetables encapsulated to achieve convenience may contribute to solving this problem. Aims This study was designed to determine whether two such supplements prepared from dehydrated fruit and vegetable extracts (Juice Plus+? Fruit and Juice Plus+? Vegetable) would result in elevation in blood concentrations of antioxidants to levels associated with lower disease risk. Methods Sixteen healthy subjects (eight male, eight female, aged 18–52 years) were screened to exclude disease and to exclude any individual with a serum β‐carotene below 0.05 µmol L^–1, and were divided into two groups of eight, each to consume either the fruit or vegetable preparation. Four days before administration of the capsules the subjects commenced a low β‐carotene diet. Venous blood samples for determination of vitamin C, vitamin E (as α‐tocopherol) and β‐carotene were taken in the morning on days 0, 2, 4, 6 and 7, after a 10‐h fast. Two capsules of either the fruit preparation (containing vitamin E 30 mg, vitamin C 150 mg and β‐carotene 6 mg) or vegetable preparation (containing vitamin E 30 mg, vitamin C 50 mg and β‐carotene 9 mg) were taken on days 0–6 inclusive with a 610‐kcal breakfast (47% energy from fat). Results Serum β‐carotene levels rose significantly by 0.56 µmol L^–1 and 0.54 µmol L^–1 after fruit and vegetable preparations, respectively, by day 7, vitamin E levels rose significantly by 3.1 µmol L^–1 after the fruit preparation but not after the vegetable preparation and vitamin C rose significantly from 28 to 62 µmol L^–1, and from 32 to 50 µmol L^–1 after the fruit and vegetable preparations, respectively. Plasma malondialdehyde, regarded as a general indicator of peroxidation, fell significantly by 19 × 10^–5 µmol L^–1 (about a 40% reduction) in both treatment groups. Conclusions These results indicate that concentrated extracts of fruits and vegetables can raise blood antioxidant levels into the ranges associated with reduced risk of disease and that this reduces the concentration of a general measure of lipid peroxidation. Further studies, especially in those with disease characterized by increased oxidative stress, are indicated.