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

Abstract Background The home provides the physical and social context for the majority of eating behaviors for U.S. adults. This study describes eleven dimensions of the home food environment among a national sample of U.S. adults and identifies which are associated with diet quality and overweight/obesity. Methods A national sample of U.S. adults ages 18 to 75 was recruited from an online survey panel. Respondents (n = 4942) reported on foods available in the home, including 1) fruit and vegetables, 2) salty snacks/sweets, 3) less healthy beverages, as well as 4) food placement, 5) shopping practices for fruits and vegetables, 6) food preparation, 7) portion control methods, 8) family meals from restaurants, 9) family household practices around TV and eating, 10) presence of a TV in the dining area, and 11) ownership of a scale. Self-reported height and weight, fruit and vegetable intake, and percent calories from fat were also assessed. Results Mean household size was 2.6, 32.7% had children in the home, and 23.1% lived alone. The majority were White (67.7%), with 12.3% Black and 14.3% Hispanic. Mean age was 44.4 and 48.3% were men. In multivariable models, seven features of the home food environment were associated with meeting the recommended fruit and vegetable intake guidelines, with food placement, meal preparation, frequency of shopping for fruit, and a greater variety of fruits and vegetables available in the home most strongly associated. Eight of 11 features were associated with percent energy from fat, including restaurant food for family meals, salty snacks and sweets availability, less healthy beverages availability, food placement, meal preparation, frequency of shopping for fruit, family eating with the TV on, and having a TV in the dining area. More diverse fruit and vegetable availability was associated with lower odds of overweight/obesity, and more frequent family eating while watching TV was associated with increased odds of overweight/obesity. Conclusion Targeting these dimensions of the home food environment may be a promising approach for future intervention research.

Download Full-text

Improving low‐income parents' fruit and vegetable intake and their potential to impact children's nutrition

Health Education ◽

10.1108/09654281111161220 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 111 (5) ◽

pp. 391-411 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Michael Prelip ◽

Chan Le Thai ◽

Jennifer Toller Erausquin ◽

Wendy Slusser

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Children's Nutrition

Download Full-text

Determinants of fruit and vegetable intake in low-income children and adolescents

Nutrition Reviews ◽

10.1111/nure.12126 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 72 (9) ◽

pp. 575-590 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Jennifer Di Noia ◽

Carol Byrd-Bredbenner

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Low Income ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Low Income Children

Download Full-text

The relationship between the food environment and fruit and vegetable intake of adolescents living in Residential Children's Homes

Health Education Research ◽

10.1093/her/cyn053 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 520-530 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

A. Evans ◽

M. Dowda ◽

R. Saunders ◽

J. Buck ◽

L. Hastings ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Environment ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Children’S Homes ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

Mother-Related Determinants of Children At-Home Fruit and Vegetable Dietary Patterns in a Polish National Sample

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11123398 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 3398 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Barbara Groele ◽

Dominika Głąbska ◽

Krystyna Gutkowska ◽

Dominika Guzek

Keyword(s):

Marital Status ◽

Low Income ◽

Dietary Patterns ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

National Sample ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Level Of Education ◽

At Home

Fruit and vegetable intake is indicated among the features of sustainable diets, while children’s intake is strongly associated with the intake of their parents, as well as the availability of food products and their accessibility at home. The aim of the study was to analyze the mother-related determinants of children at-home fruit and vegetable dietary patterns in a Polish national sample of children aged 3–10 years. The random quota sampling (with quotas for age, education, and place of residence) was conducted to recruit the national representative sample of Polish mothers of children aged 3–10 years (n = 1200) who were interviewed using a Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) method. They were asked about their children’s at-home fruit and vegetable dietary patterns, which were later compared in sub-groups that were stratified for age, educational background, marital status, place of residence, occupational status, and total net income in households. The indicated features, but not marital status, were indicated as determinants of children at-home fruit and vegetable dietary patterns. Children of younger mothers more often than others consumed fruits, whereas those of older mothers consumed vegetables. Children of mothers who had a lower level of education more commonly than others consumed fruits alone as a dish, and they had a higher preference for them, while those of mothers who had a higher level of education had a higher consumption of vegetables than others, although they had a medium preference for them. Children of mothers from villages had a lower consumption of vegetables and fruits than others, although they had a higher preference for fruits. Children of mothers with no professional job had a lower consumption of vegetables than others and more often consumed them processed, although they had a higher preference for fruits and vegetables. Children of mothers with low income had a lower consumption of vegetables than others and more often consumed fruits in a dish with other products, although they had a higher preference for fruits and vegetables. To summarize, an indication of a high preference for fruits and vegetables by mothers is not accompanied by the higher consumption and recommended dietary patterns for fruit and vegetable intake by their children. In particular, the sub-samples of mothers who had a low level of education, were from villages, did not have a professional job, and had low income may either overestimate the fruit and vegetable preference of their children or do not offer them sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables, although they indicate a higher preference. In order to encourage more sustainable diet following, in terms of the fruit and vegetable intake, it is essential to introduce actions toward the properly planned nutritional education for the indicated target groups.

Download Full-text