Longitudinal Evaluation of Fruit and Vegetable Preferences Among K-2nd Grade Students Participating in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

To evaluate fruit and vegetable preferences over time, with repeated experience, as part of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). Fruits (F=28) and vegetables (V=29) were distributed twice a week, over 35 weeks, at a participating FFVP-school (n= 236 students, 12 teachers, K-2nd grade). A 3-point Likert emoticon scale was used to evaluate student FV preferences. Preference ratings were analyzed, over 35 weeks, by descriptive statistics, Spearman's rho correlations, Mann-Whitney U, and linear regression with predictor variables including grade level, fruit or vegetable served, and time (week). For the 57 different FV rated for preference, ratings (n=10,335, F= 5,121; V=5,214) revealed that F had higher frequency of children choosing “I like it” than for V (78% F; 38.2% V). Preferences for F were higher ranked than for V (p<0.01) and liking distribution (liked, okay, didn't like) was different between F and V (p<.001). Significant relations were found between liking and: grade (r=-0.02, P=0.02), and time (r=-0.09, p<0.001). Models indicated that V served (compared to fruits; β=-.40), time point (β= -.07), and grade level (β=-.02) accounted for significant variance for preference ratings (R2=0.17, p<.001), indicating that preference ratings went down over time. When modeled independently, this remained true for V (R2=0.007, p<0.001), but only time remained significant in the F preference model (R2=0.008, p<0.001). Fruits were preferred over vegetables. Overall preference ratings were negatively impacted by time, grade level, and vegetables served. Being exposed to a variety of FV, generally, did not improve ratings for vegetables.