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Offering free fresh fruits and vegetables during the school day affects students’ fruit and vegetable intake but is dependent upon implementation strategies
Author(s) -
Shertzer Julie Anne,
Fly Alyce D.,
Middlestadt Susan E.,
HightowerKing Mindy
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.452.5
Subject(s) - demographics , medicine , statistical significance , zoology , psychology , demography , biology , sociology
Most US youth eat too few fruits and vegetables (FV). Thus, in 2004, a federally funded program was established in 8 states to improve intake by offering free FV at schools, mainly in classrooms. Evaluation of Indiana program efforts to increase FV availability and improve intake of students in 4 th –8 th grades for the 06–07 school year was conducted by choosing 6/25 schools by convenience, administering questionnaires to teachers and students, and examining FV purchase records. Teachers (n=142) reported participation by internet survey; differences were detected using Kruskal‐Wallis with Mann‐Whitney post‐hoc tests. Students reported “yesterday” intake (portions/day) and demographics at baseline (n=1,227) and follow‐up (n=1,051). Data were analyzed using t‐tests and Chi Square, respectively. Significance was set at α=.05. Offerings varied among schools but overall were 81.6% fresh F, 15.8% V, 2.6% dry F. Student participation (94%) was high. Teacher participation (96%) was high but varied by school (p=.032). At follow‐up, students improved whole F intake (1.7±1.1 vs 1.2±1.1; mean portions ± SD; p<.001) but significance was limited to 4/6 schools; those at schools serving >20% V increased intake of certain V (p=.004). Availability of fresh FV improves intake but depends on implementation. Schools should offer more V to improve V intakes. Supported by Indiana Department of Education & Indiana University.