Fruit and Vegetable Preferences and Intake: Among Children in Alberta

Purpose: The association between preference for and intake of fruits and vegetables was examined among Albertan children. Methods: Data used were collected as part of a provincial population-based survey among grade 5 children in Alberta. Intake of two fruits and five vegetables was assessed using the Harvard food frequency questionnaire, and preference for individual fruit and vegetable items was rated using a three-point Likert-type scale. Random effects models with children nested within schools were used to test for associations between fruit and vegetable preference and intake. Results: A total of 3398 children aged 10 to 11 years returned completed surveys. Children who reported a greater liking for fruits and vegetables also reported significantly (p<0.001) higher intake. On average, children who liked a food a lot ate 0.5 to 2.7 more weekly servings of the food than did children who did not like the food. Conclusions: These findings suggest that focusing on interventions designed to increase taste preference may lead to increased fruit and vegetable intake among children. Introducing children to unfamiliar fruits and vegetables through taste testing may be an effective and practical health promotion approach for improving dietary habits.

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Insufficient Fruit and Vegetable Intake in a Low- and Middle-Income Setting: A Population-Based Survey in Semi-Urban Tanzania

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu10020222 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 222 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Beverly Msambichaka ◽

Ikenna C. Eze ◽

Ramadhan Abdul ◽

Salim Abdulla ◽

Paul Klatser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vegetable Intake ◽

Population Based ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Middle Income ◽

Population Based Survey ◽

Low And Middle Income

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Parental Views of Promoting Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among Overweight Preschoolers and School-Aged Children

Global Qualitative Nursing Research ◽

10.1177/2333393617692085 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 233339361769208 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Martha J. Nepper ◽

Weiwen Chai

Keyword(s):

Dietary Intake ◽

Parental Influence ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Family Members ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Valuable Insight ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

School Aged Children

Given the importance of parental influence on children’s eating habits, we explored perceptions of parents of overweight (body mass index–for-age percentile ≥85%) preschoolers (3-5 years) and overweight school-aged children (6-12 years) regarding challenges in promoting fruit and vegetable intake and how they and other family members influence their overweight children’s dietary habits. Focus groups were conducted with 13 parents of overweight preschoolers and 14 parents of overweight school-aged children. Codes and themes were developed by inductive data analysis. Four common themes were identified: short shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables prohibiting parents from purchasing, children’s taste changes in fruits and vegetables, parents having the primary influence on children’s dietary intake, and wanting fruits and vegetables “ready to go.” Parents of school-aged children were more concerned about their children’s weight, and extended family members negatively influenced children’s dietary intake compared with parents of preschoolers. Our findings provide valuable insight for nutrition/health educators when developing family-based interventions for weight management.

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Abstract P314: High Prevalence of Behavioural Cardiovascular Risk Factors in a Nepalese Community undergoing Socio-epidemiological Transition

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.129.suppl_1.p314 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Abhinav Vaidya ◽

Natalia Oli ◽

Umesh R Aryal ◽

Damber B Karki ◽

Alexandra Krettek

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Tobacco Consumption ◽

Population Based ◽

Behavioral Risk ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Who Steps

Behavioral risk factors, particularly the major four- tobacco consumption, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity- are accountable for a major proportion of cardiovascular disease burden. Driven by urbanization and globalization, these risk factors are rising in many of the low- income countries including Nepal. Population-based surveys and hospital reports indicate cardiovascular diseases are rising in Nepal. The first countrywide WHO-STEPS risk factor survey conducted in 2007-2008 showed that 23.8% are daily smokers, 28.5% are current drinkers, and 61.9% consumed less than five servings of fruits and vegetables, while 5.5% had low physical activity. Risk factors are generally more prevalent in urban areas than rural. We aimed to study the status of these behavioural risk factors in a community that is rapidly undergoing transition from a village to an urban community. We conducted the study in Duwakot and Jhaukhel, two urbanizing villages 13 kilometers from the capital Kathmandu. Six clusters were randomly selected. Altogether 777 adults aged 25-59 years consented to participate. Questions were based on the WHO-STEPS survey. Current smokers included those who affirmed to the question ‘Do you smoke?’ Current drinkers had ‘consumed alcohol in the previous one month’. Inadequate fruit and vegetable intake indicated those who were taking less than five servings of combined fruit and vegetable in a day. Physical activity was subjectively measured by asking about the respondent’s activities at work, travel and leisure. Having low physical activity meant not meeting any of the GPAQ (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire) criteria of adequate physical activity. Prevalence of the four major behavioral risk factors was high in the community. Addictive behavioural risk factors were particularly higher in the males than in the females: current smoking (33.5% vs. 14.7%), current smokeless tobacco consumption (20.2% vs. 3.3%), and current alcohol drinking (34.5 % vs. 12.6%). Only 2% of the study population fulfilled the recommended minimum five servings of fruits and vegetables. Low physical activity was present in 43.3% of the respondents, with a higher prevalence seen among the females, elderly, more educated and those on non-agro works. In conclusion, there is particularly high physical inactivity and low fruit and vegetable intake in the community indicating negative effects of urbanization such as changing dietary habit and escalating sedentary lifestyle. Because the community is still beginning to urbanize, it is important that timely population-based health promotional strategies and favourable environmental modifications are implemented to counteract the effects of urbanization.

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Awareness and outcomes of the fruits and veggies (FNV) campaign to promote fruit and vegetable consumption among targeted audiences in California and Virginia: a cross-sectional study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11055-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tessa R. Englund ◽

Valisa E. Hedrick ◽

Sofía Rincón-Gallardo Patiño ◽

Lauren E. Kennedy ◽

Kathryn W. Hosig ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Behavioral Outcomes ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Brand Awareness ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Convenience Sample

Abstract Background In 2015, the Partnership for a Healthier America launched the branded Fruits & Veggies (FNV) Campaign to apply a unique industry-inspired marketing approach to promote fruit and vegetable sales and intake to moms and teens in two US pilot markets: Fresno, California and Hampton Roads, Virginia. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to: 1) assess brand awareness and fruit- and vegetable-related outcomes among FNV Campaign target audiences in the California and Virginia market locations; and 2) examine whether reported awareness of the FNV Campaign was associated with differences in fruit- and vegetable-related cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Methods Data for this cross-sectional study were collected using an online survey administered to a non-probability convenience sample (n = 1604; February–July 2017) of youth aged 14–20 years (n = 744) and moms aged 21–36 years (n = 860) in the two pilot markets. Descriptive statistics were computed and outcomes compared between unaware and aware respondents, controlling for sociodemographic covariates. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was conducted to assess whether fruit- and vegetable-related attitude, belief, and encouragement outcomes differed by FNV Campaign awareness; logistic regression was used to examine associations between FNV brand awareness and dichotomous variables (fruit- and vegetable-related behavioral intentions, trying new fruits and vegetables); and ANCOVA was used to assess associations with daily fruit and vegetable intake frequency. Results Approximately 20% (n = 315/1604) of respondents reported awareness of the FNV Campaign. Youth that reported awareness of the FNV Campaign (n = 167, 22.4%) had higher intentions to buy (p = 0.003) and eat (p = 0.009) fruits and vegetables than unaware respondents. Mothers that reported awareness of the FNV Campaign (n = 148, 17.2%) reported greater encouragement for friends and family to eat fruits and vegetables (p = 0.013) and were approximately 1.5 times more likely to report trying a new fruit or vegetable (p = 0.04) than mothers unaware of the Campaign. Daily fruit and vegetable intake frequency did not differ by Campaign awareness. Conclusions FNV Campaign awareness was associated with limited but positive short- and intermediate-term cognitive and behavioral outcomes among target audience respondents. These findings can inform future research to enhance understanding and improve the FNV Campaign as it is expanded to new markets nationwide.

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Home food environment and associations with weight and diet among U.S. adults: a cross-sectional study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11102-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Michelle C. Kegler ◽

April Hermstad ◽

Regine Haardörfer

Keyword(s):

Food Environment ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

National Sample ◽

Family Meals ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Home Food Environment ◽

Meal Preparation ◽

Home Food

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.

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Abstract P395: Color of Fruits, Vegetables and Blood Pressure: The INTERMAP Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.127.suppl_12.ap395 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 127 (suppl_12) ◽

Author(s):

Linda M Oude Griep ◽

Jeremiah Stamler ◽

Queenie Chan ◽

Linda van Horn ◽

Lyn M Steffen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

United Kingdom ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Regression Coefficients ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Orange Yellow ◽

Urinary Potassium ◽

History Of

Background: The color of the edible portion of fruits and vegetables, reflecting the presence of pigmented phytochemicals, may be used as an indicator of their nutrient profile. Previous cohort and intervention studies have documented beneficial associations of fruits and vegetables with blood pressure (BP). However, whether the color of fruits and vegetables is associated with BP is unknown. Methods: We used cross-sectional data from the International Study of Macro-/Micronutrients and Blood Pressure (INTERMAP) on 4,680 men and women ages 40-59 years from Japan, China, United Kingdom, and United States. During four visits, eight BP measurements and four 24-hr dietary recalls were completed. Fruits and vegetables were categorized in 4 color groups: green, orange/yellow, red/purple, and white. BP regression coefficients per 2SD higher intake were estimated using multivariable linear regression models. To estimate overall associations, country-specific regression coefficients were pooled, weighted by inverse of their variance. Adjustments were for age, gender, sample, intake of total energy and alcohol, 24-hr urinary sodium excretion, smoking, education, dietary supplement use, adherence to any special diet, history of cardiovascular diseases or diabetes, family history of hypertension, use of medication (antihypertensive, cardiovascular or for diabetes), body mass index, and intake of low-fat dairy, fibre-rich grain products, red and processed meats, fish and shellfish, and mutually for other fruit and vegetable color groups. Results: Average daily fruit plus vegetable intakes (g/1000 kcal) was 183 in the total population, varying from 129 in the United Kingdom to 222 in China. White fruits and vegetables contributed 32% of total fruit and vegetable intake, orange/yellow 27%, green 26%, and red/purple 15%. Fruit and vegetable color groups were weakly related to each other, partial r values ranged from 0.08 for green with red/purple to 0.15 for white with orange/yellow. Fruit and vegetable color groups were highly correlated with dietary and urinary potassium; highest correlation coefficients were for white fruits and vegetables (r=0.46 for dietary and r=0.26 for urinary potassium). Green fruits and vegetables were also highly related to beta-carotene (r=0.40) and dietary fiber (r=0.40), orange fruits and vegetables to vitamin C (r=0.59), and white fruits and vegetables to dietary fibre (r=0.49). Green fruit and vegetable intake higher by 90 g/1000 kcal was associated with a systolic BP difference of -1.19 mm Hg (P<0.05). Green fruits and vegetables comprised mainly green vegetables including: cabbages (52%), lettuces (21%), dark leafy (10%), and a heterogeneous group (17%). Other fruit and vegetable color groups and total fruits plus vegetables were not associated with BP. Conclusion: Higher intake of green fruits and vegetables may contribute to lower systolic BP.

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Abstract P070: The Relationship Between Weight and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, Assessed by Serum Carotenoids and Self-Report: Results from the PREMIER Trial

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.125.suppl_10.ap070 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽

Author(s):

Jessie L Parker ◽

Liwei Chen ◽

Diane C Mitchell ◽

Hsin-Chieh Yeh ◽

Cheryl Anderson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Average Intake ◽

Serum Carotenoids ◽

The Relationship

Background: Increased intake of fruits and vegetables (F/V) may protect against adiposity, but effects on weight have been inconsistent. Our objective was to examine the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and weight, using direct and indirect measures of dietary intake: self-reported 24-hour recall and serum carotenoid levels. Methods: Participants from the PREMIER lifestyle intervention trial were included in this analysis (n=554). Dietary measures included 24-hour dietary recalls and serum carotenoid levels, from a fasting blood sample. The outcome was weight in pounds. Nested linear mixed models were used to examine the association between F/V and weight. Results: Mean F/V increased from 4.6 (SD 2.4) to 5.6 (SD 3.2) (p=<.01), mean serum carotenoids increased from 53.2 (SD 31.9) to 68.1 (SD 42.5) (p=<.01). At 18 months, participants in the lowest quintile of fruit and vegetable change reported an average intake of 4.42.8 servings of fruits and vegetables, and those in the highest quintile of change reported an average intake of 7.73.2 servings. In a multivariate model adjusting for age, race, gender, intervention, energy, study site, and time, lower body weight was associated with higher F/V intake measured by dietary recall (−0.63 lbs, 95% CI −0.83 to −0.42, per 1 serving increase in F/V) and serum carotenoids (−0.13 lbs, 95% CI −0.15 to −0.11, per 1 ug/dl increase in carotenoids). Results were somewhat attenuated but consistent after additional adjustments for working heart rate, exercise, calories from sugar-sweetened beverages, marital and employment status, and alcohol use . Conclusions: Greater fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with decreased body weight. Results were consistent for both objective and self-reported measures of fruit and vegetable intake.

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Nutritional value and health benefits of horticulture.

10.1079/hc.36147133.20219903176 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mary Taylor

Keyword(s):

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Daily Intake ◽

Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Daily Consumption ◽

Bodily Function ◽

Functional Components

Abstract Daily consumption of fruit and vegetables is encouraged as important for human health and nutrition because the vitamins, minerals, essential micronutrients, fibre, vegetable proteins and bio-functional components they provide are crucial for bodily function. The FAO/WHO expert consultation (2004) on diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases recommended a daily intake of 400 g (five portions) of fruits and vegetables (excluding potatoes and other starchy tubers) to prevent heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity. However, despite this recognition, world-wide per capita consumption of fruits and vegetables is estimated to be 20-50% short of the minimum recommended level. In 2013 an estimated 5.2 million deaths worldwide were attributable to inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. Adhering to the WHO recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake can prevent morbidity and mortality caused by micronutrient deficiencies, birth defects, mental and physical retardation, weakened immune systems, blindness and even death. Improving the dietary diversity through horticulture-based food intake is an effective and sustainable approach to combating micronutrient malnutrition in both developed and developing countries (Kennedy et al., 2003).

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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.

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Factors associated with the consumption of fruits and vegetables in schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 years of Florianópolis, South of Brazil

Revista de Nutrição ◽

10.1590/1415-52732014000400003 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 413-422 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Carla Regina Galego ◽

Gisele Liliam D'avila ◽

Francisco de Assis Guedes de Vasconcelos

Keyword(s):

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Family Income ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Biological Data ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

P Value ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Santa Catarina ◽

Cross Sectional

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of the fruit and vegetable intake of schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 years from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, and analyze the associated factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed food intake, socioeconomic, and biological data of 2,836 schoolchildren. The Chi-square test analyzed the dependent (fruit and vegetable intake) and independent variables; the latter with p-value <0.20 were selected for logistic regression analysis. The level of significance was p<0.05. Results: Only 4.8% of the sample had adequate fruit and vegetable intake. The variables associated with adequate fruit and vegetable intake were school ownership status (private versus public), mother's education level, and family income per member. After adjustment only family income per capita remained associated with fruit and vegetable intake. Conclusion: The fruit and vegetable intake of schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 years from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, is inadequate.

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