The Impact of Multiple Strategies to Encourage Fruit and Vegetable Consumption During School Lunch

School lunch programs provide an opportunity to improve students’ diets. We sought to determine the impact of a multifaceted intervention (cafeteria redesigns, increased points-of-sale and teacher education) on secondary students’ perceptions of school-lunch quality and convenience and fruit and vegetable intake. Surveys (n = 12,827) from middle and high school students in 12 intervention and 11 control schools were analyzed. We investigated change in school-lunch perceptions and lunchtime and daily fruit and vegetable consumption from 2016 to 2018. Among 8th graders, perceptions that school lunch tastes good and that school lunch was enough to make students feel full increased 0.2 points (on a 5-point scale; p < 0.01) in intervention schools relative to control schools. Among 10th graders, lunchtime fruit and vegetable consumption increased 6% in intervention relative to control schools (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 respectively). Daily fruit intake increased 0.1 cups/day in intervention relative to control schools among 9th graders (p < 0.01). This study provides important evidence on the limited effect of design approaches in the absence of meal changes. We observed only modest changes in school lunch perceptions and fruit and vegetable consumption that were not consistent across grades, suggesting that additional efforts are needed to improve school-lunch uptake.

Download Full-text

Analysis of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption by Children in School Canteens Depending on Selected Sociodemographic Factors

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina55070397 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 55 (7) ◽

pp. 397 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Łuszczki ◽

Sobek ◽

Bartosiewicz ◽

Baran ◽

Weres ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Body Height ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Bar Code ◽

School Canteen ◽

The Impact

Background and Objectives: Eating habits acquired or changed during childhood are likely to track into adulthood. Due to the fact that nutritional behaviours are not so strongly formed among children, it is easier to change and develop them in children than in adults. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of selected sociodemographic factors affecting fruit and vegetable consumption (i.e., age, parents’ body mass index, parents’ level education, duration of breastfeeding, child’s time spent in front of computer/television) among children in school canteens. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 106 participants (52 girls, 54 boys) aged 6–12. The frequency of consuming fruits and vegetables at a school canteen was assessed using bar code cards for two weeks. Body composition estimates were obtained using a foot-to-foot bioelectrical impedance analysis, body height was measured using a stadiometer Seca 213. The questionnaire contained questions about selected factors which can have an influence on fruit and vegetable consumption. In the study group, 13.2% of participants were overweight and 17.9% were obese. Results: Our results showed a statistically significant relationship between age and fruit and vegetable consumption, and it increased with age in both sexes. Conclusions: Bearing in mind the various conditions discussed when shaping the eating habits of pre-school- and early-school-aged children, the importance of proper nutritional education should be stressed both among children and parents.

Download Full-text

Community-based culinary and nutrition education intervention promotes fruit and vegetable consumption

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980021003797 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Jessica Jarick Metcalfe ◽

Melissa Pflugh Prescott ◽

Melissa Schumacher ◽

Caitlin Kownacki ◽

Jennifer McCaffrey

Keyword(s):

Nutrition Education ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Control Group ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Cooking Classes ◽

The Impact

Abstract Objective: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Market to MyPlate (M2MP) program on fruit and vegetable consumption and cooking behaviours. Secondary objectives were to examine factors that affected participant retention and program completion, and analyse program feedback provided by participants. Design: This study conducted a mixed methods evaluation embedded within a cluster randomised controlled trial of the M2MP intervention. Adult participants completed a pre- and post-program survey reporting on their fruit and vegetable consumption and cooking behaviours. A subsample participated in structured interviews, providing feedback about M2MP and the impact of the program. Setting: Seven weekly classes took place in community centres and extension offices in central Illinois. Participants: 120 adults and their families participated. Class cohorts were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: (1) nutrition education and cooking classes with produce allocations (PAE, n 39); (2) nutrition education and cooking classes only (EO, n 36) or (3) control group (n 45). Results: Compared to control, PAE participants reported larger increases from pre- to post-intervention in fruit (P = 0·001) and vegetable consumption (P = 0·002), with no differences in cooking frequency. Interview analyses identified key themes in behaviour changes due to M2MP, including reported increases in dietary variety, cooking self-efficacy and children’s participation in cooking. Conclusions: PAE participants who received an intervention that directly increased their access to fresh produce (via produce allocations) increased their reported fruit and vegetable consumption. Though participants’ cooking frequency did not change, interviewees reported increased variety, cooking confidence and family participation in cooking.

Download Full-text

Nutrition Campaign Knowledge and Dietary Behavior in Middle School Students

Californian Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.32398/cjhp.v16i2.2086 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sarah E. Roth ◽

Monique Gill ◽

Alec M. Chan-Golston ◽

Catherine M. Crespi ◽

Stephanie L. Albert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Middle School ◽

Middle School Students ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Dietary Behavior ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Dietary Behaviors ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

School Students ◽

The Impact

Background and Purpose: Federal nutrition campaigns are designed to make dietary recommendations accessible but have not been extensively evaluated. This paper explores whether knowledge of nutrition campaigns is associated with dietary behavior among young adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 4,773 middle school students in Southern California. Hierarchical logistic regression models were used to assess the association between dietary behaviors and nutrition campaign knowledge, controlling for gender and ethnicity. Results: Knowledge of the Fruit & VeggiesMore Matters campaign was associated with increased odds of high fruit and vegetable consumption, knowledge of the MyPlate campaign was associated with neither, and both were associated with increased odds of not consuming soda. Conclusion: Overall, low percentages of students demonstrated knowledge of nutrition campaigns, and knowledge was associated with some dietary behaviors. More research is needed to examine the impact of nutrition campaigns while also accounting for other psychosocial and environmental factors that may affect soda, fruit, and vegetable consumption.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of "College CHEF," a Campus-based, Culinary Nutrition Education Program

Building Healthy Academic Communities Journal ◽

10.18061/bhac.v1i1.5436 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 29 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jennifer McMullen ◽

Melinda Ickes ◽

Melody Noland ◽

Don Helme

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Nutrition Education ◽

Education Program ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Nutrition Education Program ◽

The Impact

Aim: Evaluate the impact of a campus-based culinary nutrition education program, the College CHEF: Cooking Healthfully Education for Life-long Change, to determine if there were significant differences preto post- intervention with participants' attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge with healthy eating/cooking.Background: College students have high rates of overweight and obesity and tend to have unhealthy dietary practices. Culinary nutrition programs may provide students a means to improve related attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge.Methods: College students residing on campus were recruited. Participants completing both pre- and post-measures were included in analysis: Control (n= 17) and intervention groups (n = 15). Quasi-experimental pre-, post- design: Surveys were administered to both groups at baseline and post-intervention in October-November 2015.Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in fruit and vegetable consumption (p = .03) and with knowledge of cooking terms and techniques (p < .001).Conclusions: Campus-based culinary nutrition education programming has potential to positively impact college students’ fruit and vegetable consumption and cooking knowledge. Future programs should incorporate strategies such as additional opportunities to engage in hands-on practice and building cross-campus collaborations to promote sustainability.

Download Full-text

Perspective: Understanding the Intersection of Climate/Environmental Change, Health, Agriculture, and Improved Nutrition – A Case Study: Type 2 Diabetes

Advances in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/advances/nmz035 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 731-738 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

John Finley ◽

Lindsay M Jaacks ◽

Christian J Peters ◽

Donald R Ort ◽

Ashley M Aimone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Food Systems ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Nutritional Ecology ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Changing Environment ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACT Efforts to promote health through improved diet and nutrition demand an appreciation of the nutritional ecology that accounts for the intersection of agriculture, food systems, health, disease and a changing environment. The complexity and implications of this ecology is exemplified by current trends and efforts to address nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), most prominently type 2 diabetes. The global prevalence of type 2 diabetes continues to rise unabated. Of particular concern is how to address the unhealthy dietary patterns that are contributing to this pandemic in a changing environment. A multi- disciplinary approach is required that will engage those communities that comprise the continuum of effort from research to translation and implementation of evidence-informed interventions, programs and policies. Using the prevention of type 2 diabetes by increasing fruit and vegetable consumption as an exemplar, we argue that the ability to effect positive change in this and other persistent nutrition-related problems can be achieved by moving away from siloed approaches that limit the integration of key components of the diet–health continuum. Ultimately the impact of preventing type 2 diabetes via increased fruit and vegetable consumption will depend on how the entire diet changes, not just fruits and vegetables. In addition, the rapidly changing physical environment that will confront our food production system going forward will also shape the interventions that are possible. Nonetheless, the proposed “team science” approach that accounts for all the elements of the nutrition ecology will better position us to achieve public health goals through safe and sustainable food systems.

Download Full-text