Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among 4th and 5th grade students: results from focus groups using reciprocal determinism

Abstract

The Year 2000 Goals for the U.S. identify a goal of five servings per day of fruits and vegetables (F&V), which is roughly double what children are currently eating. Focus group discussions (based on the reciprocal determinism concept in social learning theory) were conducted with 4th and 5th grade students, their parents, teachers, and school food service workers, in preparation for the design of a school nutrition education program to increase consumption of F&V. A social learning theory perspective was taken because it has been demonstrated to be useful in the design of effective school nutrition education programs. A theory-based protocol delineating the sequence of questions to be asked in each focus group was designed before each group met. Discussions were conducted with ten groups of students, two groups each of teachers and of parents, and one of school food service employees. Three general factors appeared to be most likely to increase F&V consumption in these children: increasing availability of F&V in the home, enhancing liking for vegetables, and providing skills in increasing F&V availability and in preparing F&V.