Abstract
Limited access to fresh foods is a barrier to adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables among youth, particularly in low-income communities. The current study sought to examine preliminary effectiveness of a fruit and vegetable prescription program (FVPP), which provided one USD 15 prescription to pediatric patients during office visits. The central hypothesis was that exposure to this FVPP is associated with improvements in dietary patterns and food security. This non-controlled longitudinal intervention trial included a sample of caregiver–child dyads at one urban pediatric clinic who were exposed to the FVPP for 1 year. Patients received one USD 15 prescription for fresh produce during appointments. A consecutive sample of caregivers whose children were 8–18 years of age were invited to participate in the study. Dyads separately completed surveys that evaluated food security and dietary behaviors prior to receipt of their first prescription and again at 12 months. A total of 122 dyads completed surveys at baseline and 12-month follow-up. Approximately half of youth were female (52%), and most were African American (63%). Mean caregiver-reported household food security improved from baseline to 12 months (p < 0.001), as did mean child-reported food security (p = 0.01). Additionally, child-reported intake of vegetables (p = 0.001), whole grains (p = 0.001), fiber (p = 0.008), and dairy (p < 0.001) improved after 12 months of exposure to the FVPP. This study provides evidence that pediatric FVPPs may positively influence food security and the dietary patterns of children.
Highlights
Introduction published maps and institutional affilLifelong dietary patterns are established during childhood and adolescence [1,2,3].Influenced by various factors, including caregiver and peer eating behaviors as well as food attitudes, costs, and availability [4,5,6], consumption patterns during this critical period play a key role in the development of certain chronic health conditions [3,7,8,9]
Recent efforts to simultaneously address food insecurity and poor dietary behaviors among children and adolescents include the introduction of pediatric fruit and vegetable prescription programs
Consistent with this qualitative finding, caregivers and children in the current study reported significant improvements in measured food security following 1 year of exposure to the identical fruit and vegetable prescription program (FVPP)
Summary
Introduction published maps and institutional affilLifelong dietary patterns are established during childhood and adolescence [1,2,3].Influenced by various factors, including caregiver and peer eating behaviors as well as food attitudes, costs, and availability [4,5,6], consumption patterns during this critical period play a key role in the development of certain chronic health conditions [3,7,8,9]. Most US children and adolescents fail to consume adequate amounts of high-nutrient foods, fruits and vegetables [10,11,12,13], which provide important protections against chronic disease [8,9,14,15,16]. Recent efforts to simultaneously address food insecurity and poor dietary behaviors among children and adolescents include the introduction of pediatric fruit and vegetable prescription programs. These programs vary widely in design and approach; iations
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
