Children 's Fruit And Vegetable Research Articles

SNAP Participation Moderates Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among Minority Families With Low Income

ObjectiveTo examine the moderation effect of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation on the baseline fruit and vegetable (FV) intake of Hispanic/Latino and African American children and parents participating in the Brighter Bites program. DesignCross-sectional. SettingHouston, Austin, and Dallas, TX; Washington, DC; and Southwest Florida. ParticipantsSelf-reported surveys (n = 6,037) of Hispanic/Latino and African American adult-child dyads enrolled in Brighter Bites in Fall 2018. Variables MeasuredDependent variable, child FV intake; Independent variable, parent FV intake, and FV shopping behavior; Effect Measure Modifier, SNAP participation. AnalysisQuantitatively used mixed effects linear regression models to test if the effect of parental baseline FV intake and shopping behavior on a child's baseline FV intake differed by SNAP participation. Analyses were performed using STATA with significance set at P < 0.05 and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). ResultsFor parents that consumed FV ≥ 2 times/d at baseline, there was a 0.1 times increase in child FV intake at baseline among those who participated in SNAP as compared with those who did not participate in SNAP (ß = 0.1; 95% CI, 0.1–0.2; P = 0.001), and for parents who shopped at convenience stores ≥ 2 times/wk for FV, there was 0.6 times increase in child FV intake at baseline for those who participated in SNAP as compared with those that did not participate in SNAP (ß = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.3–0.9; P < 0.001). Conclusions and ImplicationsSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation moderated the associations between FV intake among African American and Hispanic/Latino parents and children and FV shopping at convenience stores and child FV intake. Findings indicate a need for future interventions to promote SNAP participation among those eligible and improve access to FV.

California's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) Be Better social marketing campaign: mothers' fruit and vegetable consumption and facilitation of children's healthy behaviours.

Evaluation of California Department of Public Health's three-year social marketing campaign (Be Better) to encourage healthy eating and water consumption among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) California mothers. Andreasen's social marketing framework was used to outline the development and evaluation of the campaign. Quantitative, pre-post cross-sectional study with three cohorts nested within survey years. Generalised estimating equation modeling was used to obtain population estimates of campaign reach and changes in mothers' fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and facilitative actions towards their children's health behaviours. CalFresh Healthy Living (California's SNAP-Ed). Three separate cohorts of SNAP mothers were surveyed (pre, post) between 2016 and 2018 inclusive. A total of 2229 mothers (ages 18-59) self-identified as White, Latina, African American or Asian/Pacific Islander participated. Approximately 82 percent of surveyed mothers were aware of the campaign as assessed by measures of recall and recognition. Ad awareness was positively associated with mothers' FV consumption (R2 = 0·45), with the proportion of FV on plates and with behaviours that facilitate children's FV consumption and limit unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks (βs ranged from 0·1 to 0·7). The campaign successfully reached 82 percent of surveyed mothers. Positive associations between California's Be Better campaign and targeted health behaviours were observed, although the associations varied by year and media channel (i.e. television, radio, billboards and digital). Most associations between ad awareness and outcomes were noted in years two and three of the campaign, suggesting that more than 1 year of campaign exposure was necessary for associations to emerge.

Associations of parent dietary role modeling with children's diet quality in a rural setting: Baseline data from the NU-HOME study

These analyses examined associations of parent dietary role modeling with diet quality among school-age children in a rural community. Past research has found protective associations between parent role modeling and children's dietary intake; however, there is a gap in understanding these associations for families in rural communities. Baseline data (2017 -2018) were drawn from the New Ulm at Home (NU-HOME) randomized controlled trial, conducted in the United States. The trial recruited 114 children (7–10 years old) and parents. Parents self-reported dietary intake [fruit and vegetable (FV), sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB), fast food (FF)] and frequency of sitting and eating with their child. Children reported parent role modeling of healthful eating (FV and salad at the evening meal; FV as snacks). Two 24-h dietary recalls assessed child diet quality indicators [Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) total scores, FV intake, SSB intake]. General linear models (GLM) and logistic regression analyzed associations of child diet quality (HEI score, FV intake, SSB intake) with parent dietary intake, parent sitting and eating the evening meal with their child, and child perceptions of parent role modeling healthful eating, adjusted for highest level of education in the home. Higher child HEI-2015 scores were positively associated with more frequent parent role modeling of fruit intake at meals, and inversely associated with more frequent parent role modeling of fruit as a snack; no significant associations of child FV intake with parent role modeling were observed. Higher child SSB intake was positively associated with parent FF intake. In this rural community, parents play significant roles in shaping children's dietary quality and intake, though more work needs to be done to address optimal intervention strategies to promote parent role modeling of healthful eating.

P25 Fruit and Vegetable Intake, Intention, and Healthy Food Choice Self-Efficacy Among Second and Third Grade EFNEP Youth in Guam

<h3>Objective</h3> To examine the effectiveness of the Health Kids Club (HKC) curriculum on fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and dietary behaviors among the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) youth participants in Guam. <h3>Use of Theory or Research</h3> Guam EFNEP implements the HKC curriculum and applies the Experiential Learning Model; therefore, the constructs of the Social Cognitive Theory is the framework to evaluate this study's objective. <h3>Target Audience</h3> Study participants were Guam EFNEP youth in grades 3-5 (N = 2,569) during 2015-2019 from different community-based sites throughout Guam. Majority of youth were Asian and/or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander race and males (53%). <h3>Program Description</h3> The HKC curriculum consists of 6 interactive lessons on food safety, diet quality, portion control, and moving more and each has 2 activities. A lesson is added to gather exit data and celebrate program completion. <h3>Evaluation Methods</h3> Only data from youth who self-reported dietary behaviors using the nutrition education survey at entry and exit were analyzed (N = 1,714). Surveys consisted of 14 total questions for both periods 2015-2017 (n = 776) and 2017-2019 (n = 938). A paired <i>t</i> test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were performed to determine program effectiveness. Questions from each survey period were selected to examine FV intake, FV intention, and healthy food choice (HFC) self-efficacy behavior categories. <h3>Results</h3> Youth reported a significantly higher exit score for all behavior categories in both study periods. In 2015-2017, the mean increase in FV intake, FV intention, and HFC self-efficacy scores at exit were 0.45 (95% CI: 0.35-0.55), 0.18 (95% CI: 0.10-0.27), and 0.55 (95% CI: 0.45-0.65), respectively. In 2017-2019, the mean increase in FV intake and HFC self-efficacy scores at exit were 0.20 (95% CI: 0.05-0.35) and 0.37 (95% CI: 0.29-0.45), respectively, and a statistically significant median increase in FV intention score, z=2.27, <i>P</i> = 0.023. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Guam EFNEP youth curriculum is effective in improving children's FV intake, FV intention, and HFC self-efficacy.

Fruit and vegetable intake at and away from school during participation in the FIT Game.

The FIT Game is a multicomponent school-based incentive program aimed at increasing children's fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. There has been no previous report on how playing the game at school influences FV intake away from school. To examine children's (n=37) FV intake away from school while participating in the FIT Game program at school. FV intake away from school was assessed using the ASA24-Kids-2014 Dietary Assessment Tool. Paired samples t-tests and the generalized linear model repeated measures analysis of variance were used to examine the difference in children's mean FV intake away from school. During the final three days of the FIT Game intervention, we observed no change in FV consumption away from school (p=0.30). Similarly, no differences were observed between FV intake away from school before the implementation of the FIT Game and during the final three days (p=0.81). The FIT Game modestly decreased the children's FV intake in a nonstatistically significant manner away from school. Our previous report showed an increase in children's FV intake at school; thus, the net effect of the game was a significant increase in total daily FV intake.

Role of Organizational Support on Implementation of an Environmental Change Intervention to Improve Child Fruit and Vegetable Intake: a Randomized Cross-Over Design.

Little is known about the role of organizational or administrative support in implementation of health promotion interventions, particularly outside of school settings. The purpose was to determine the change in fruit and vegetable (FV) intake among children living in residential children's homes (RCHs) and assess the relationships among change in organizational support, intervention implementation, and child nutrition outcomes. Data were collected from 29 RCHs and 614 children living in RCHs, as part of a group randomized design with delayed intervention, at three cross-sectional waves: 2004, 2006, and 2008. RCH staff made environmental changes to increase intake of FV. Implementation and organizational support data were collected from staff at the RCHs. Child FV intake were measured via 24-h dietary recalls. A two-way (condition by time) repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to test whether FV intake increased in response to the intervention. A two-level path analysis with a robust maximum likelihood estimator was used to explore the relationships among organizational support, intervention implementation fidelity, and child FV intake. There was a significant increase in FV intake within all RCHs from 2004 to 2006 (P = 0.022 for the intervention group, P = 0.015 for the control group). This increase was maintained in both groups from 2006 to 2008 (post-intervention mean servings: intervention = 3.2 vs control = 3.4). Increases in organizational support resulted in greater overall implementation fidelity. When RCH staff, supervisors, and the RCH CEO were perceived to be supportive of the intervention, more environmental changes were made to encourage eating FV. Fostering organizational support may improve implementation of interventions.

Demographic Relationships to Students’ Fruit and Vegetable Intake

Objective Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake remains inadequate in youth and differs across demographic subgroups. We examined relationships between student demographic characteristics and amounts of fresh FV selected, consumed, and wasted at school lunch. MethodsRandomly selected students (N = 294) at 3 middle schools participated. Weights (g) of FV selected and wasted were measured. School-cluster adjusted regressions examined the association between student demographics and dependent variables. Two-way interactions were explored. ResultsNo significant differences were found for student demographics on FV selected, consumed, or wasted. An interaction between free/reduced-price lunch status (SES) and sex of student on FV consumed was significant (omnibus p-value = .01). In probing the interaction, girls eligible for free/reduced-price lunch ate less than girls paying full price (83.9 versus 109.1 g). For boys the interaction reversed: boys paying full price ate less than boys eligible for free/reduced-price lunch on average (73.3 g vs 96.8 g). ConclusionsDemographics did not relate to objective FV consumption at lunch. Further analysis revealed a sex by SES interaction. These findings contradict previous literature mainly focused on children's self-reported FV intake. Results may inform interventions aiming for equitable improvements in FV intake.

NP27 - Outdoor Learning Environments as Active Food Systems: Effectiveness of the Preventing Obesity by Design Gardening Component

Objective: To assess the impact of a Gardening Component on 4–5 year olds enrolled in 15 childcare centers in Wake County, North Carolina, using a waitlist/control group, randomized controlled trial research design (2017–2022). Description: Fifteen centers were selected in 2018 and randomly assigned to intervention/waitlist/control groups to evaluate the impact of fruit and vegetable (FV) gardening on children's physical activity, FV liking, FV knowledge, and FV consumption. A standardized approach to garden installation was used locating six identical raised planting beds (8' x 2') at each intervention center, with similar, controlled growing conditions. Six FV types were selected and planted consistently at each center. Physical activity was measured using accelerometers. Fruit and vegetable liking and knowledge was measured via a modified electronic method (Carraway-Stage, et la.2014) using portable tablets. Fruit and vegetable consumption was measured using the Fruit & Vegetable Snack Tool (Witt & Duncan, 2012). Outdoor environmental quality was assessed using the Preschool Outdoor Environment Measurement Scale POEMS (DeBord, et al. 2005) and Best Practice Indicators (Cosco & Moore, 2014). The study is conducted in collaboration with the Department of Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences, Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University. First data gathering wave was completed in April 2018. Evaluation: Preliminary results will be ready for distribution in Fall 2018. Conclusions and Implications: Because childcare centers are policy-sensitive institutions, evidence underscoring the benefits of fruit and vegetable gardening may encourage regulators to adopt supportive rules (Tandon, Walters et al. 2016). With approximately 76% of the U.S. population living in areas with an annual growing season >200 days (IIASA 2013), a gardening component may be a promising obesity prevention strategy for young children in those regions, where 77% of total (120,000 approximatley) U.S. regulated childcare centers are located (CCAA 2012). Funding: 2017-68001-26354. The following is the supplementary data to this article: Download .pdf (26.68 MB) Help with pdf files Poster

The baseline characteristics of parents and African American girls in an online obesity prevention program: A feasibility study.

The objective of this paper was to identify the relationships and associations between child and parent characteristics with child fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in an online obesity prevention program for 8–10 year old African American girls. Girls and a parent (n = 342 child-parent pairs) in the southwestern US completed baseline data collection from 2012 to 2014. Girls and a parent completed self-report questionnaires online. Girls also completed two unannounced 24 hour telephone-based dietary recalls. The relationships of parent demographic characteristics, child FV intake, and psychosocial variables (child and parent) were examined by analysis of variance. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationships between psychosocial variables and child FV intake. Child FV intake was significantly greater in the highest household education (p = 0.001) and income groups (p = 0.004). FV home availability was higher with older parents (p = 0.007) and two-parent households (p = 0.033). Child FV intake was positively related to child FV preferences (p < 0.001), FV home availability (p = 0.022), and FV home accessibility (p = 0.002) but was negatively related to family barriers to FV consumption (p = 0.000). The study highlighted significant findings between child FV consumption and parent psychosocial variables and demographic characteristics that may offer insights for the design of effective obesity prevention interventions for 8–10 year old African American girls.ClinicaTrials.gov (NCT01481948).

The effectiveness of asking behaviors among 9\u201311 year-old children in increasing home availability and children\u2019s intake of fruit and vegetables: results from the Squire\u2019s Quest II self-regulation game intervention

BackgroundHome environment has an important influence on children’s fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption, but children may in turn also impact their home FV environment, e.g. by asking for FV. The Squire’s Quest II serious game intervention aimed to increase asking behaviors to improve home FV availability and children’s FV intake. This study’s aims were to assess: 1) did asking behaviors at baseline predict home FV availability at baseline (T0) (RQ1); 2) were asking behaviors and home FV availability influenced by the intervention (RQ2); 3) did increases in asking behaviors predict increased home FV availability (RQ3); and 4) did increases in asking behaviors and increases in home FV availability mediate increases in FV intake among children (RQ4)?MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of a study using a randomized controlled trial, with 4 groups (each n = 100 child–parent dyads). All groups were analyzed together for this paper since groups did not vary on components relevant to our analysis. All children and parents (n = 400 dyads) received a self-regulation serious game intervention and parent material. The intervention ran for three months. Measurements were taken at baseline, immediately after intervention and at 3-month follow-up. Asking behavior and home FV availability were measured using questionnaires; child FV intake was measured using 24-h dietary recalls. ANCOVA methods (research question 1), linear mixed-effect models (research question 2), and Structural Equation Modeling (research questions 3 and 4) were used.ResultsBaseline child asking behaviors predicted baseline home FV availability. The intervention increased child asking behaviors and home FV availability. Increases in child asking behaviors, however, did not predict increased home FV availability. Increased child asking behaviors and home FV availability also did not mediate the increases in child FV intake.ConclusionsChildren influence their home FV environment through their asking behaviors, which can be enhanced via a serious game intervention. The obtained increases in asking behavior were, however, insufficient to affect home FV availability or intake. Other factors, such as child preferences, sample characteristics, intervention duration and parental direct involvement may play a role and warrant examination in future research.Trials RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01004094. Date registered 10/28/2009

Impact evaluation of Enabling Mothers to Prevent Pediatric Obesity through Web-Based Education and Reciprocal Determinism (EMPOWER) Randomized Control Trial.

The family and home environment is an influential antecedent of childhood obesity. The purpose of this study was to pilot test The Enabling Mothers to Prevent Pediatric Obesity through Web-Based Education and Reciprocal Determinism (EMPOWER) intervention; a newly developed, theory-based, online program for prevention of childhood obesity. The two-arm, parallel group, randomized, participant-blinded trial targeted mothers with children between 4 and 6 years of age. Measures were collected at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks to evaluate programmatic effects on constructs of social cognitive theory (SCT) and obesity-related behaviors. Process evaluation transpired concurrently with each intervention session. Fifty-seven participants were randomly assigned to receive either experimental EMPOWER (n = 29) or active control Healthy Lifestyles (n = 28) intervention. Significant main effects were identified for child physical activity, sugar-free beverage consumption, and screen time, indicating that both groups improved in these behaviors. A significant group-by-time interaction was detected for child fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption as well as the SCT construct of environment in the EMPOWER cohort. An increase of 1.613 cups of FVs (95% confidence interval = [0.698, 2.529]) was found in the experimental group, relative to the active control group. Change score analysis found changes in the home environment accounted for 31.4% of the change in child FV intake for the experimental group. Child physical activity, sugar-free beverage consumption, and screen time improved in both groups over the course of the trial. Only the theory-based intervention was efficacious in increasing child FV consumption. The EMPOWER program was robust for inducing change in the home environment leading to an increase in child FV intake (Cohen's f = 0.160).

Reliability and Validity of Digital Imaging as a Measure of Schoolchildren's Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

BackgroundAs more and more interventions aim to increase schoolchildren's fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption, less resource-intensive yet valid alternatives to weighed plate waste (WPW) are needed for assessing dietary intake. ObjectivesWe aimed to test the reliability and validity of digital imaging (DI) and digital imaging with observation (DI+O) in assessing children's FV consumption during school lunch. DesignFV consumption (in grams) was assessed on lunch trays from third- to fifth-grade children over eight visits (31 to 68 trays collected per visit) to compare WPW with DI and DI+O. SettingTwo elementary schools (327 and 631 students enrolled, respectively). Main outcome measuresInterobserver reliability of DI. Validity of DI and DI+O compared against WPW. Statistical analysesReliability was assessed by percent agreement and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Validity was assessed by Pearson correlations, paired t tests, and Bland-Altman plots. ResultsReliability was acceptable for DI; percent agreement was 96% and the ICC was 0.92. FV consumption assessments by DI and WPW (n=159) were highly correlated (r=0.96; P<0.001). Mean FV consumption using DI (96.7 g) was within 1.0 g of WPW and not significantly different from WPW (P=0.56), and Bland-Altman limits of agreement for individual-tray FV consumption were –32.9 to 31.3 g. FV consumption assessments by DI+O and WPW were highly correlated (r=0.98; P<0.001). Mean FV consumption using DI+O (99.3 g) was within 1.0 g of WPW and not significantly different from WPW (P=0.38), and limits of agreement for individual-tray FV consumption were –25.0 to 26.8 g. ConclusionsDI was reliable for assessing children's FV consumption during school lunch. DI and DI+O were valid for assessing mean consumption but less precise for estimating individual-tray consumption. Valid estimations of mean FV consumption were achieved using DI without cafeteria observations, thereby reducing labor and time. Thus, DI is especially promising for assessing children's mean FV consumption during school lunch.

Associations between socioeconomic, parental and home environment factors and fruit and vegetable consumption of children in grades five and six in British Columbia, Canada

BackgroundRegular fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption has been associated with reduced chronic disease risk. Evidence from adults shows a social gradient in FV consumption. Evidence from pre-adolescent children varies and there is little Canadian data. This study assessed the FV intake of school children in British Columbia (BC), Canada to determine whether socio-economic status (SES), parental and the home environment factors were related to FV consumption.MethodsAs part of the BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Program, 773 British Columbia fifth-and sixth-grade school children (Mean age 11.3 years; range 10.3-12.5) and their parents were surveyed to determine FV consumption and overall dietary intake. Students completed a web-based 24-hour dietary food recall, and a student measure of socio-economic status (The Family Affluence Scale). Parents completed a self-administered survey about their education, income, home environment and perceptions of their neighbourhood and children’s eating habits. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to examine the association between SES, parental and home environment factors and FV consumption.ResultsApproximately 85.8% of children in this study failed to meet minimum Canadian guidelines for FV intake (6 servings). Parent income and education were not significantly associated with child FV consumption but were associated with each other, child-reported family affluence, neighbourhood environment, access to FV, and eating at the table or in front of the television. Significant positive associations were found between FV consumption and child-reported family affluence, meal-time habits, neighbourhood environment and parent perceptions of the healthiness of their child’s diet; however, these correlations were weak (ranging from .089-.115). Multiple regression analysis showed that only child-reported family affluence significantly predicted FV consumption (std-β = 0.096 95% CI = 0.01 to 0.27).ConclusionsThe majority of children in our study were not meeting guidelines for FV intake irrespective of SES, parent perceptions or home environment, making this a population wide concern. An almost trivial socio-economic gradient was observed for the child-reported SES measure only. These results are consistent with several other studies of children. Longitudinal research is needed to further explore individual and social factors associated with FV consumption in childhood and their development over time.

Comparison of Parent and Child Reported Fruit and Vegetable Preferences

Research has demonstrated health habits formed in early childhood persist into adulthood, especially food preferences. Parents can play an influential role in the development of preferences, due to their involvement in shaping early dietary behaviors. The purpose of this study was to compare fruit and vegetable (FV) food preferences of 3–5 year old children enrolled in a Head Start program as reported by parents and the children themselves. Ten target fruits (n=6) and vegetables (n=4) were chosen based on published accounts of commonly consumed FV in this age group. Parents were asked to report their child's FV preference on a 5‐ point Likert scale (strongly likes to strongly dislikes). A researcher developed electronic tool was utilized to assess each child's FV preference. The tool assessed preference using a 5‐point Likert scale (very yucky to very yummy) anchored with stars increasing in size. Using iPads, children were shown images of each FV in a random order. Information concerning children's exposure to FV in the home and school environment was also assessed through parent report and school menus. This study serves to establish baseline data regarding parental opinion of their child's FV preference compared to the child's reported FV preference. Information obtained from this study can be used to develop future nutrition education materials and interventions for preschool‐aged children and their parents.

Child Care Nutrition Environment: Is it related to children's fruit and vegetable intake?

Objectives To assess the impact of child care nutrition environment on children's fruit and vegetable (FV) intake among preschool children. Methods The study sample consisted of cohort of 425 preschool-aged children enrolled in 29 child care centers participating in the STRONG Kids program. Child care nutrition environments (CCNE) were measured by trained observers using the modified Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation. Hierarchical regressions were performed to evaluate whether CCNE and parent FV intake are associated with children's FV intake after controlling for primary caregiver's and child's characteristics. Results Results of the correlation analysis between CCNE and children's FV intake indicated that both Total Nutrition Environment (TNE) and Fruit/Vegetable environment (FVE) were positively correlated with vegetable intake and FV intake, while there was no relationship for fruit and 100% fruit juice intake. From the hierarchical regression analysis, both child care FVE and primary caregivers' fruit intake were independently associated with children's FV intake. Conclusion This study identified the significant role of child care FV environment when we promote FV intake among preschool children.

Can a Community-based Intervention Improve the Home Food Environment? Parental Perspectives of the Influence of the Delicious and Nutritious Garden

Objective To examine changes in parental report of the home food environment during the course of a garden-based fruit and vegetable (FV) intervention for grade school children. Methods Self-administered pre-post surveys were completed by parents/caregivers (n = 83). Main outcome measures included: child asking behavior, FV availability/accessibility, parental encouragement, and value of FV consumption. Results Process evaluation results indicate children shared their garden experiences at home, and as a result, the children's home food environment became increasingly supportive of FV consumption. Parents reported an increase ( P < .01) in the frequency that their child asked for FVs. Parental value for FV consumption also improved ( P < .01), as did home availability of fruit ( P < .05), vegetables ( P < .001), and parental encouragement of FVs ( P = .06). Conclusions and Implications Community-based interventions that provide activities to engage parents may provide added benefit by improving the home food environment.

Associations between school meals offered through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program and fruit and vegetable intake among ethnically diverse, low-income children.

Despite evidence in support of the health benefits associated with fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, national data indicate that FV consumption among school-aged children is below recommended levels, particularly among low-income children. School meals offered through the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program can provide an important contribution to child FV intake. This study examines the proportion of fruits and vegetables consumed from school meals programs among ethnically diverse, low socioeconomic status children. Participants (n = 103) included fourth to sixth grade boys and girls from 4 urban elementary schools in St. Paul, Minnesota serving primarily low-income populations. Research staff interviewed children during school hours and recorded dietary intake via 24-hour recall. Analysis included descriptive statistics using cross tabulations and means. Average reported mean (SD) daily FV intake was 3.6 (2.5) servings, with 80% of children consuming fewer than 5 daily servings of FV. On average, children consumed over half of their daily FV intake within school. Children with low FV intake (<5 FV servings daily) consumed a higher proportion of their daily intake at school than children with higher FV intake (≥5 FV servings daily) (39% vs 59%; p = .002). Child FV intake is below recommended levels. School meals provide an important contribution to the daily FV intake among ethnically diverse, low socioeconomic status children, particularly among those with the lowest FV intake. School meals programs promoting FV intake within the school environment may provide an opportunity to encourage increased FV consumption.

Family Influence: Key to Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Fourth- and Fifth-grade Students

Objective To assess social and familial environmental influences on fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption of fourth- and fifth-graders living in a culturally diverse, urban setting. Design In 2006, students from 9 fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms from a public school in the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Region were recruited as part of the Food Stamp Nutrition Education's initiative to increase FV consumption among school-aged children in low-income schools. This intervention was conducted in partnership with the school. Participants Ninety-three fourth- and fifth-grade students and their parents. Main Outcome Measure The average daily FV consumption of elementary school students was the dependent variable. Home engagement (eg, student participation in menu planning and food selection at home), parental modeling, school environment, peer influences, and individual characteristics were the independent variables. Analysis Multiple regression analysis. Results Family and home environment factors explained more than 50% of the variance in students' FV consumption. Conclusions and Implications Interventions designed to influence school-aged children's FV consumption should target family members and consider incorporating strategies to reach families and promote meal planning activities with the children in their homes.

Fruits and Vegetables at Home: Child and Parent Perceptions

Objective Examine child and parent perceptions of home food environment factors and associations with child fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. Design Research staff administered surveys to children during after-school sessions, and parents completed surveys by mail or over the phone. Setting Four urban elementary schools in St. Paul, Minnesota, serving primarily low-income populations. Participants Seventy-three children (55 girls, 18 boys) and 1 parent/guardian per child participated in a theater-based intervention aimed at obesity prevention. Main Outcome Measures Perceptions of home food environment factors (home FV availability, home FV accessibility; parental encouragement to eat FV; family meal frequency). Analysis Descriptive statistics and paired t tests. Results On average, child and parent perceptions of the home food environment were similar. When comparing child-parent dyad perceptions of home food environment, a moderate to high level of agreement (56%-86%) was found. Child report of home FV availability, home FV accessibility, parental encouragement to eat FV, and family meal frequency explained 26.7% of the variance in child FV intake, whereas parent report of these factors explained 4.9% of the variance. Conclusions and Implications It is important to understand both child and parent perceptions of the home food environment when developing interventions aimed at increasing child FV intake.

Fruit and vegetable consumption in children and their mothers. Moderating effects of child sensory sensitivity

A cross-sectional study was carried out to ascertain the relative contribution of food neophobia and taste sensitivity to the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed in a typical day by 73, 2–5-year-old children attending nurseries in the South Birmingham area, UK. Sensory processing, parental control, child food neophobia and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption of both mothers and children were measured. Parental and child FV consumption in the sample were positively associated ( p < 0.001). Moderated regression analyses showed that taste/smell sensitivity, but not food neophobia or tactile sensitivity, moderated the relationship between maternal and child FV consumption. In particular, children who were sensitive to taste/smell stimuli ate fewer fruit and vegetables, regardless of their mothers FV consumption. This finding implies that those children, who are sensitive to taste/smell stimuli, may be less likely to model maternal FV consumption. For these children, a more gradual route to encouraging acceptance, with attention to small sensory changes in foods, may be necessary to increase FV consumption.