Abstract
The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether an environmental intervention in a university canteen changes the sale and daily consumption of vegetables and fruit among canteen users. The intervention focused on decision guidance, including a positive incentive and nudging. In a pretest−posttest-design, daily sales data of pieces (pcs) of vegetable components and fruit, as well as the sale per main component (pcs/mc), were assessed. Here, 20 opening days were analyzed, each after the intervention (t1) and in the same period of the previous year (t0). Vegetable and fruit consumption were assessed in a controlled pretest−posttest design (3-day-dietary-record, t0 and t1). The intervention group (IG; n = 46) visited the canteen ≥ once/week, and the control group (CG; n = 49) < once/week. At t1, the sale of absolute vegetable components did not change (t0: 132.3 ± 49.7 pcs, p > 0.05), but more per main component were sold at t1 (t0: 0.54 ± 0.09, Δ: 0.09 ± 0.13 pcs/mc, p < 0.05). In addition, the sale of fruit (t0: 17.4 ± 11.6, Δ: 8.3 ± 10.8 pcs, p < 0.05; t0: 0.07 ± 0.03, Δ: 0.05 ± 0.07 pcs/mc, p < 0.001) increased after the intervention. The total consumption of vegetables (IG, t0: 260 ± 170 g/d, CG, t0: 220 ± 156 g/d; p > 0.05) and fruit (IG, t0: 191 ± 109 g/d; CG, t0: 186 ± 141 g/d; p > 0.05), however, did not change. To effectively change daily consumption, the intervention needs to be expanded.
Highlights
Vegetables and fruit are of particular importance in a healthy diet
1 displays the study to evaluate the effects of the mainly decision guidguiding ondesign the sale of vegetables and fruit in the canteen (Substudy A), and ing intervention on the sale of vegetables and fruit in the canteen (Substudy A), and the the consumption of vegetables and fruit of the university members (Substudy B)
Sales data regarding vegetable components and fruit, as well as vegetable components and fruit sold per main component, were assessed
Summary
Vegetables and fruit are of particular importance in a healthy diet. An adequate consumption of these foods reduces the risk of disease adjusted life years and premature mortality (e.g., caused by coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and colorectal cancer) [1,2]. In large groups of the German population [3], such as working people [4]. Students [5,6,7,8], vegetable and fruit consumption is often below the recommended five servings per day. The deficiency in vegetable consumption is high. From a health promotion point of view, the consumption of vegetables and fruits should be increased. To promote a higher consumption of vegetables and fruit in terms of preventive measures, canteens in the workplace are a suitable setting. In Western societies, university students [10,11] and working people [11,12] often eat lunch away from home
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