Assessment of the Role of Nutrition Education in Increasing Fruits and Vegetables Consumption in Saudi University Students

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Eating fruits and vegetables is associated with a decrease in the incidence of diseases, resulting from malnutrition or chronic diseases; thus, the World Health Organization recommends five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. However, the consumption rates of fruits and vegetables of the Saudi community were low, according to a national multistage survey (2015) that included 10,735 individuals and reported that over 98% of the participants consumed less than five servings of fruits and vegetables. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the nutrition education program (nutrition intervention) in increasing the rate of fruit and vegetable consumption of 207 Saudi female university students. Methods The participants’ rates of fruits and vegetables consumption were collected pre and post the nutrition education program using a measurement tool (questionnaire). The participants received 1.5 hrs. of a nutrition education program, which included the importance and minimum daily consumption of fruits & vegetables, fruits & vegetables servings, recommendations of how to increase fruits & vegetables intakes with different recipes, and an interactive game of ideas to increasing fruits & vegetables intake. The difference of participants’ responses to the pre and post questionnaires were analyzed using chi-squared test. Results The study findings showed a significant increase in daily eating fruits in participants pre the intervention (30.4%) and post the intervention (45.9%) (chi-squared = 53.3, 0.00), and in daily eating vegetables in participants pre the intervention (35.7%) and post the intervention (50.2%) (chi-squared = 65.1.3, 0.00). There also was a significant increase in daily eating leafy vegetables in participants pre the intervention (24.6%) and post the intervention (33.3%) (chi-squared = 29.9, 0.00). Conclusions The findings suggested that a well-designed nutrition intervention would be an effective tool in increasing fruits and vegetables consumption in Saudi university students. Funding Sources None.