Strategies to increase primary school children's fruit and vegetable intake during 10AM snack time

Gertrude G Zeinstra,Sandra Van Der Haar,Annemien Haveman-Nies

doi:10.1016/j.appet.2021.105235

Gertrude G Zeinstra, Sandra Van Der Haar + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105235

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Journal: Appetite	Publication Date: Mar 31, 2021
Citations: 3	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Wageningen University & Research

Abstract

In this observational study, children's fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption during the 10AM school break was assessed for two promising strategies: a 5-day-a-week F&V policy and free provision of F&V presented in an attractive fruit bowl. Schools without a school food policy served as reference group. A secondary aim was to explore the feasibility of the two strategies. A total of 569 children aged 6–9 years participated. Children's F&V consumption at school was assessed on two different week days via observations and weighing snack portions. Parents completed an online-questionnaire on their perceptions and experiences with the two strategies. Main outcomes were the proportion of children and frequency of eating F&V, and children's F&V portion sizes. Data were analysed via ANOVA and Chi-Square (p < 0.05). Average F&V consumption differed significantly between the three situations (p < 0.001): 250 g in the fruit bowl situation, 130 g in the 5-day-policy situation and 60 g in the no-policy situation. The proportion of children eating F&V was high for the 5-day-policy (97–98%) and fruit bowl situation (87–97%), whereas this was substantially lower (50–60%; p < 0.001) in the no-policy situation. The majority of parents considered both strategies as feasible. A 5-day-a-week F&V policy seems an effective, feasible and structural strategy to support children's fruit and vegetable consumption at school. The fruit bowl strategy with an additional eating moment may enhance children's intake even further, although additional requirements are needed for structural implementation at school.

Highlights

Fruit and vegetables (=fruit and vegetable (F&V)) are an essential part of a healthy diet and provide health benefits in the short and long term (Slavin & Lloyd, 2012)
The aim of this study was to investigate children’s fruit and vegetable consumption during 10AM snack time at schools having 1) a 5-day-aweek F&V policy, and 2) free provision of F&V presented in an attrac tive fruit bowl
Children in the no-policy schools - measured in autumn - were significantly younger with 7.46 years compared with the two other groups (p < 0.001), whereas the fruit bowl children were signif icantly older with 8.26 years compared with the no-policy children (p < 0.001) and the 5-day-policy children (p = 0.02), as a few sixth-graders were included

Summary

Introduction

Fruit and vegetables (=F&V) are an essential part of a healthy diet and provide health benefits in the short and long term (Slavin & Lloyd, 2012). Eating F&V is necessary for growth and development, and is associated with a healthy weight and less chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (Aune et al, 2017; WHO, 2004). In many European countries, children’s F&V intake does not reach the World Health Organization population goal (Lynch et al, 2014). In The Netherlands, children aged 4–8 years consume on average 73 g of vegetables and 135 g of fruit per day, whereas the rec ommended daily intake for this age group is 100–150 g and 150 g respectively. F&V consumption of 9–18-year-old children is even further below the recommended guideline (Van Rossum et al, 2016)

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