scholarly journals Improving the dietary quality of food parcels leads to improved dietary intake in Dutch food bank recipients—effects of a randomized controlled trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (8) ◽  
pp. 3491-3501
Author(s):  
Judith E. Neter ◽  
S. Coosje Dijkstra ◽  
Jos W. R. Twisk ◽  
Marjolein Visser ◽  
Ingeborg A. Brouwer
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Food Banks ◽  
Food Bank ◽  
Quality Of Food ◽  
Unhealthy Snacks

Abstract Purpose Since food banks have a strong influence on recipients’ diets, and seem to have difficulties in supporting healthy diets, improving the dietary quality of food parcels is important. The aim of our study was to assess whether improving the dietary quality of food parcels, using different strategies, can positively impact the actual dietary intake of Dutch food bank recipients. Methods This randomized cross-over controlled trial (Trial ID: ISRCTN40554133) with four intervention conditions [(1) Control (standard food parcel), (2) snacks– (standard food parcel with replacement of unhealthy snacks by staple foods), (3) FV+ (standard food parcel plus the recommended daily amount of fruit and vegetables), (4) snacks– + FV+ (standard food parcel with replacement of unhealthy snacks by staple foods plus the recommended daily amount of fruit and vegetables)] included 163 food bank recipients, from three food banks. At baseline, participants filled in a questionnaire. Dietary intake data were collected through 24-h recalls after both intervention conditions at 4 and 8 weeks follow-up. Primary outcome was daily fruit and vegetable intake, secondary outcomes were daily dietary intakes of food groups and nutrients. Results Multi-level linear regression analysis, using a two-level model, showed a higher mean daily fruit intake in participants in the FV+ condition than in participants in the Control condition (delta (δ): 74 [40.3;107.6] g). Both mean daily fruit and vegetable intake were higher in participants in the Snacks– + FV+ condition than in participants in the Control condition (fruit δ: 81.3 [56.5;106.2] g; vegetables δ: 46.2 [17.5;74.9] g), as well as in the Snacks– condition (fruit δ: 70.0 [38.8;101.1] g; vegetables δ: 62.2 [26.2; 98.2] g). Conclusions This study shows that improving the dietary quality of food parcels can positively impact the dietary intake of Dutch food bank recipients. With this information we can further develop effective strategies that can be easily applied by food banks, to improve dietary intake of food bank recipients.

scholarly journals Effect of improving dietary quality of food parcels on dietary intake in Dutch food bank recipients - a randomized controlled trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Neter ◽  
Coosje Dijkstra ◽  
Jos Twisk ◽  
Marjolein Visser ◽  
Ingeborg Brouwer
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Food Banks ◽  
Food Bank ◽  
Daily Amount ◽  
Quality Of Food ◽  
Staple Foods

AbstractIntroduction:Since food banks have a strong influence on recipients’ diets, and seem to have difficulties in supporting healthy diets, improving the dietary quality of food parcels is important. Therefore, we aimed to assess whether improving the dietary quality of food parcels, using different strategies, can positively impact the actual dietary intake of Dutch food bank recipients.Materials and methods:This randomized cross-over controlled trial with four intervention conditions [1) Control (standard food parcel), 2) Snacks– (standard food parcel with replacement of snacks by staple foods), 3) FV + (standard food parcel plus the recommended daily amount of fruit and vegetables), 4) Snacks– + FV (standard food parcel with replacement of snacks by staple foods plus the recommended daily amount of fruit and vegetables)] included food bank recipients from three food banks. In total, 199 recipients were randomly allocated. At baseline, participants filled in a questionnaire and underwent anthropometric measurements. Dietary intake data were collected through 24-hour recalls after both intervention conditions at 4 and 8 weeks follow-up. Primary outcome was fruit and vegetable intake, secondary outcomes were dietary intakes of food groups and nutrients.Results:Multi-level linear regression analysis, using a two-level model showed a higher mean fruit intake in participants in the FV + condition than in participants in the Control condition (δ: 74 [40.3;107.6] g). Both mean fruit and mean vegetable intake were higher in participants in the Snacks– + FV + condition than in participants in the Control condition (fruit δ: 81.3 [56.5;106.2] g; vegetable: δ: 46.2 [17.5;74.9] g), as well as in the Snacks– condition (fruit: δ: 70.0 [38.8;101.1] g; vegetable δ: 62.2 [26.2; 98.2] g).Discussion:This study shows that improving the dietary content of food parcels can positively impact the dietary intake of Dutch food bank recipients. With this we can further develop effective strategies to improve dietary intake of food bank recipients.

scholarly journals Linear programming can help identify practical solutions to improve the nutritional quality of food aid

2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zo J Rambeloson ◽  
Nicole Darmon ◽  
Elaine L Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Linear Programming ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Saturated Fatty Acids ◽  
National Level ◽  
Food Aid ◽  
Food Banks ◽  
Food Bank ◽  
Quality Of Food

AbstractObjectivesTo assess the nutritional quality of food aid delivered by food banks in France and to identify practical modifications to improve it.DesignNational-level data were collected for all food aid distributed by French food banks in 2004, and its nutrient content per 2000 kcal was estimated and compared with French recommendations for adults. Starting with the actual donation and allowing new foods into the food aid donation, linear programming was used to identify the minimum changes required in the actual donation to achieve the French recommendations.ResultsFrench food-bank-delivered food aid does not achieve the French recommendations for dietary fibre, ascorbic acid, vitamin D, folate, magnesium, docosahexaenoic acid, α-linolenic acid and the percentage of energy from saturated fatty acids. Linear programming analysis showed that these recommendations are achievable if more fruits, vegetables, legumes and fish were collected and less cheese, refined cereals and foods rich in fat, sugar and/or salt. In addition, new foods not previously collected are needed, particularly nuts, wholemeal bread and rapeseed oil. These changes increased the total edible weight (42%) and economic value (55%) of the food aid donation, with one-third of its edible weight coming from fruits and vegetables, one-third from staples, one-quarter from dairy products and approximately a tenth from meat/fish/eggs.ConclusionsImportant changes in the types and amounts of food collected will improve the nutritional quality of food-bank-delivered food aid in France. Such changes are recommended to improve the diets of deprived French populations.

Associations between digital health intervention engagement and dietary intake: A Systematic Review (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tessa Delaney ◽  
Matthew Mclaughlin ◽  
Alix Hall ◽  
Sze Lin Yoong ◽  
Alison Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Vote Counting

BACKGROUND There has been a proliferation of digital health interventions (DHIs) targeting dietary intake. Despite their potential, the effectiveness of such interventions are thought to be dependent, in part, on user engagement. However, the relationship between engagement and the effectiveness of dietary DHIs is not well understood. OBJECTIVE As such, the aim of this systematic review is to describe the association between DHI engagement (both usage and subjective experience) and dietary intake. METHODS A comprehensive search for peer-reviewed literature was undertaken in four electronic databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Scopus) from inception to December 2019. A hand search of targeted journals, grey literature searches and a search of relevant references of similar reviews was also conducted. Studies were eligible if they examined a quantitative association between objective measures of engagement with a DHI (subjective experience or usage) and measures of dietary intake in adults (aged ≥18 years). Authors single screened studies, with a pair of review authors assessing quality of studies and extracting relevant data. Narrative syntheses using vote counting was undertaken to explore to relationship between measures of engagement and dietary intake. RESULTS The search resulted in 10,653 citations, of which seven studies (from nine articles) were included in the review. The majority of studies (n=5) included usage measures of engagement rather than subjective experience (n=2). Logins were the most commonly reported usage measure (n=5 studies), and fruit and vegetable intake was the most common measure of dietary intake (n=4 studies). The heterogeneity of engagement and dietary intake measures limited the use of meta-analytic techniques, however narrative review (vote counting) found mixed evidence of an association with usage measures (5 of 12 associations indicating a positive relationship, 7 were inconclusive). No evidence regarding an association with subjective experience was found (0 of 2 associations were inconclusive). The majority of included studies (n=5) were rated poor quality according to the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. CONCLUSIONS The findings provide some evidence supporting an association between measures of usage and fruit and vegetable intake, however this was inconsistent. No evidence was found regarding an association with subjective experience. Given the limited number of studies included in the review and poor quality of available evidence further research examining the association between DHI engagement and dietary intake using consistent measures, with an additional focus on subjective experience is warranted. CLINICALTRIAL CRD42018112189

scholarly journals Changes in Dietary Intake During COVID-19 Among Youth in Urban Communities: Insights From the COACHES Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 184-184
Author(s):  
Christine St Pierre ◽  
Win Guan ◽  
Jamison Merrill ◽  
Katherine Rawlings ◽  
Jerita Mitchell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Urban Youth ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objectives Disruption to nutrition education and school meal programs and widespread reports of increased food insecurity due to COVID-19 have raised concerns about the potential effect on the dietary quality of youth. Accordingly, this study sought to examine the impact of the pandemic on the dietary intake of youth participating in the Creating Opportunities for Adolescents through Coaching, Healthy Eating, and Sports (COACHES) program, an intervention using coaches trained in trauma-informed coaching strategies to improve health of youth from at-risk communities. Methods The COACHES program recruited 6th and 7th grade students from five schools in New Orleans, LA. Students (n = 67) completed an adapted version of the CoRonavIrus Health Impact Survey (CRISIS) for Youth (V0.3) to assess dietary intake and perception of health during the pandemic. Descriptive statistics were used to examine self-reported impact of the pandemic on eating behaviors. Results Among the students who completed the CRISIS questionnaire (n = 67, 11.7+/−0.73 yrs, 55.2% female, 41.8% overweight/obese), 49.3% reported an overall physical health decrease during the pandemic, 65.6% were not meeting recommendations for daily fruit and vegetable intake, and 72.7% consumed sugary beverages two or more times daily. However, more than one-third actually reported increasing fruit and vegetable consumption during the pandemic, and more than one-quarter reduced their sugary beverage intake. Boys were more likely than girls to report increased fruit and vegetable intake, and youth who were overweight or obese were more likely to report maintaining or improving their overall diet, though results were only significant at the 90% level (P = 0.065). Conclusions Despite challenges due to COVID-19, urban youth report improved dietary intake during the pandemic. These results highlight the importance of school-based intervention programs in meeting the nutrition needs of at-risk youth. Funding Sources Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health.

scholarly journals Food Bank Donations in the United States: A Landscape Review of Federal Policies

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3764
Author(s):  
Katelin M. Hudak ◽  
Emily Friedman ◽  
Joelle Johnson ◽  
Sara E. Benjamin-Neelon
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Food System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Food Banks ◽  
Food Bank ◽  
Federal Policies ◽  
Food And Beverage

Rates of food insecurity have increased substantially in the United States (US), and more families are turning to the charitable food system to help meet their needs. Prior studies have examined the nutritional quality of foods offered through food banks, but little is known about what government policies may shape the healthy food donation landscape. The purpose of this study was to review US federal policies that impact food and beverage donations to food banks and assess whether policies encourage healthy food donations. In spring 2020, two researchers independently reviewed federal food and beverage donation policies using predefined search terms in two legal databases. We identified six categories of policies based on the existing food donation literature and themes that emerged in the policy review. We identified 42 federal policies spanning six categories that addressed food and beverage donations to food banks. The largest category was “government programs,” with 19 (45%) policies. The next largest category was “donation via schools,” with 12 (29%) policies. However, no policies specifically addressed the nutritional quality of food donations. There is an opportunity for the federal government to strengthen food bank donation policies and improve the nutritional quality of donated foods and beverages.

scholarly journals The Nutritional Quality of Lunch Meals Eaten at Danish Worksites

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Lassen ◽  
Pia Knuthsen ◽  
Anette Bysted ◽  
Elisabeth Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Energy Density ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Nutritional Environment ◽  
Macronutrient Distribution

Monitoring the nutritional environment is important to help inform future initiatives to improve access to healthy foods. The objective was to examine the nutritional quality of lunch meals eaten at 15 worksite canteens and then to compare with results from a study conducted 10 years before. The duplicate-portion-technique with subsequent chemical analysis was used to quantify 240 customers’ lunch intake. Estimated mean energy intake was 2.1 MJ/meal (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.9 to 2.4 g/meal) and estimated energy density 599 kJ/100 g (95% CI 550 to 653 kJ/100 g). Energy density of the male participants’ meals were significantly higher compared with the female participants’ meals (+55 kJ/100 g, 95% CI: +12 to +98 kJ/100 g, p = 0.012), whereas no gender differences were found in macronutrient distribution or fruit and vegetable intake. Compared to the study conducted 10 years before several significant changes were observed, including an increase in mean estimated intake of fruit and vegetables (+38 g/meal, 95% CI: 19 to 57 g/meal, p < 0.001) and a decrease in energy density (−76 kJ/100 g, 95% CI: −115, −37 kJ/100 g, p < 0.001). In conclusion, this study suggests an equalization of gender differences in fruit and vegetable intake and a possible improvement in the nutritional quality of canteen lunch meals over a 10-year period.

scholarly journals Availability of free fruits and vegetables at canteen lunch improves lunch and daily nutritional profiles: a randomised controlled trial

2009 ◽  
Vol 102 (7) ◽  
pp. 1030-1037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl K. Lachat ◽  
Roosmarijn Verstraeten ◽  
Bruno De Meulenaer ◽  
Joris Menten ◽  
Lieven F. Huybregts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Dietary Record ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Canteens are known to be promising settings for activities to promote intake of fruits and vegetables, but it remains unclear to what extent distributing free fruits and vegetables can influence dietary patterns of customers. The present study evaluated the effect of providing fruits and vegetables for free in a university canteen on the daily diet of university canteen customers. Canteen customers (n 209) were randomly allocated to a fruit and vegetable group (FVG) and a control group (CG). FVG participants were given two portions of fruits and one portion of vegetables for free at lunchtime. Food and beverage intake was measured using a dietary record for 3 d and dietary quality was appraised using a comprehensive scoring system. The FVG participants ate 80 g more fruits (P < 0·01) and 108 g more vegetables (P < 0·001) on a daily basis compared with the CG participants. No differences were found for energy density, total energy, Na and energy from fat between the groups per day. A higher intake of fruits and vegetables was observed at lunch and of vegetables during the dinner and evening snacks. The FVG participants were more likely to comply with dietary recommendations for fruits and vegetables and had a better dietary profile on the study days and for the lunch consumed on those days. The results of the present study demonstrate how modifications of a canteen lunch can be instrumental to enhance the nutritional quality of lunch as well as the overall quality of the diet of the customers.

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