Changes in Food Consumption Patterns of Mexican‐Heritage Children during a Nutrition Intervention

The Niños Sanos, Familia Sana (Healthy Children, Healthy Family) is a three‐year, quasi‐experimental, community‐based intervention study to reduce obesity in Mexican‐heritage children in Fresno County, CA. The purpose of this study is to examine changes in children's food consumption patterns between 2012 (baseline) and 2013 (end of year 1). Two communities were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention families received a @25 monthly voucher to purchase fruits and vegetables; nutrition education for parents and school children; and an enhanced physical education program in the schools (n=116). Control families only received non‐nutrition related parent educational workshops (n=54). Parents of children ages 4‐9 years reported their child's frequency of consuming 26 food and beverage items during the past month at baseline and 1 year follow‐up. Analysis of covariance, controlling for baseline consumption, mother's acculturation, and child's age, revealed no significant differences between the intervention and control groups in vegetable or fast food consumption. A follow‐up after year 2 and year 3 is planned to see longer term changes are observed. Funded by USDA‐NIFA Fund number: 82705