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 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 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.

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 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.

scholarly journals The Association Between Child Cooking Involvement in Food Preparation and Fruit and Vegetable Intake in a Hispanic Youth Population

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona M Asigbee ◽  
Jaimie N Davis ◽  
Annie K Markowitz ◽  
Matthew J Landry ◽  
Sarvenaz Vandyousefi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Low Income ◽  
School Health ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Nutrition Intervention ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable

ABSTRACT Background Cooking interventions have been linked to reductions in obesity and improvements in dietary intake in children. Objective To assess whether child cooking involvement (CCI) was associated with fruit intake (FI), vegetable intake (VI), vegetable preference (VP), and vegetable exposure (VE) in children participating in the Texas, Grow! Eat! Go! (TGEG) randomized controlled trial. Methods Baseline data from TGEG included 1231 3rd grade students and their parents. Conducted in 28 low-income, primarily Hispanic schools across Texas, TGEG schools were assigned to: 1) Coordinated School Health (CSH) only (control group), 2) CSH plus gardening and nutrition intervention (Learn, Grow, Eat & Go! or LGEG group), 3) CSH plus physical activity intervention (Walk Across Texas or WAT group), and 4) CSH plus LGEG plus WAT (combined group). Height, weight, dietary intake, VE, VP, and CCI were collected at baseline and postintervention. Linear regressions were used to assess the relation between baseline CCI and fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, VE, and VP. A priori covariates included age, sex, race/ethnicity, and TGEG treatment group. Results Children who were always involved in family cooking had higher VP and VE when compared with children who were never involved in family cooking (β = 3.26; 95% CI: 1.67, 4.86; P &lt; 0.01 and β = 2.26; 95% CI: 0.67, 3.85; P &lt; 0.01, respectively). Both VI and FI were higher for children who were always involved in family cooking compared with children who never cooked with their family (β = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.47, 3.44; P &lt; 0.01 and β = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.48, 1.39; P &lt; 0.01, respectively). VI and fruit consumption were higher for children who reported being sometimes involved in family cooking compared with children who were never involved in family cooking, (β = 1.47; 95% CI: 0.51, 2.42; P &lt; 0.01, and β = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.20, 1.08; P &lt; 0.01, respectively). Conclusions Results show a positive relation between family cooking and FV intake and preference in high-risk, minority children.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Dietary Intake and Parental Support with Child Cooking Involvement in a Youth Population (FS16-03-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Asigbee ◽  
Annie Markowitz ◽  
Matthew Landry ◽  
Sarvenaz Vandyousefi ◽  
Reem Ghaddar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Parental Support ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Fruit Intake ◽  
Parent Questionnaire

Abstract Objectives This study assessed how child cooking involvement (CCI) and parental support in food preparation (PS) are related to vegetable preference (VP), vegetable intake (VI), and fruit intake (FI) in children participating in the Texas, Grow! Eat! Go! (TGEG) randomized controlled trial. Methods Baseline data from the TGEG intervention, conducted in 28 low-income, primarily Hispanic schools across Texas, was used for this study, and included 1325 3rd grade students and their parents. Schools were assigned to: (1) control group; (2) school garden intervention [Learn, Grow, Eat & Go! (LGEG)]; (3) physical activity intervention [Walk Across Texas (WAT)]; or (4) combined group (LGEG plus WAT). Height (via stadiometer), weight (via Tanita scale), dietary intake and CCI (via child questionnaire), and PS (via parent questionnaire) were collected. General Linear Models examined variations in baseline VP, VI, and FI with baseline CCI and PS. A priori covariates for all analyses included: TGEG treatment group, age, sex, and ethnicity. Results Students were 49.2% male and 42.4% Hispanic with a mean age of 8.3 ± 0.6; 78.3% of the population had overweight/obesity. Children who never cooked with their families preferred fewer vegetables than children who sometimes/always cooked with their parents (7.0 ± 0.6 vs. 8.7 ± 0.5 and 9.4 ± 0.5 vegetables, respectively; P < 0.001). Children who never cooked with their families ate less vegetables than children who sometimes/always cooked with their parents (1.9 ± 0.4 vs. 2.6 ± 0.3 and 3.5 ± 0.3 servings/day, respectively; P = 0.003 and P = 0.000, respectively). Children who never cooked with their families ate less fruit than children who sometimes/always cooked with their parents (1.2 ± 0.2 vs. 1.5 ± 0.1 and 2.09 ± 0.1 servings/day, respectively; P < 0.001). Conclusions Interventions including family cooking activities with children may be an effective way to increase vegetable preference and intake, and fruit intake, especially in high-risk, minority children. Funding Sources The research was supported by funding from the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, (grant 2011-68001-30138).

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

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