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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Julie A. Shertzer, MS, RD¹, Krisha Thiagarajah, PhD¹, Elizabeth Foland, MS, RD, CD², and Alyce D. Fly, PhD¹. (1) Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, 116 HPER Building, 1025 East Seventh St., Bloomington, IN 47405, 812-856-0352, jshertze@indiana.edu, (2) Division of School and Community Nutrition Programs, Indiana Department of Education, Room 229, State House, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Nationally, and in Indiana, youth do not meet daily fruit and vegetable recommendations (CDC, 2004). Since 2002, federal funding allocations have provided fresh fruits and vegetables to 25 Indiana schools. This study examined meal patterns, diet-related attitudes and knowledge, and estimates of fruit and vegetable intake among students in participating schools. Data were collected (May 2005) using self-administered questionnaires from students aged 9-14 (n=4,158). The survey collected demographics, previous day intake of fruits and vegetables (times/day), meal patterns, and diet-related attitudes and knowledge. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Tukey's post-hoc tests. Students who “almost always or always” ate breakfast reported higher mean frequencies of fruit intake (mean ± standard error; 3.1±0.046 times) when compared to students who ate breakfast “sometimes” (2.7± 0.056 times, p<.001) or “almost never or never” (2.2±0.077 times, p<.001). The groups' effect on vegetable intake was significant but not meaningful (p<.001, ω²=0.005). School lunch consumption was not related to fruit and vegetable intake. Students willing to try new foods reported eating fruits and vegetables more frequently compared to those who were unwilling (p<.001). Poor knowledge of the fruit and vegetable recommendation was associated with lower intakes (p<.001). Eating breakfast, willingness to try new foods, and knowledge of the daily recommendation are related to higher estimates of fruit and vegetable intake. Offering fruit at breakfast, developing activities that encourage sampling of new foods, and continued education to stress daily recommendations should augment fruit and vegetable intake in schools participating in this program.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe how Indiana schools utilize funding from the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.
• List three behaviors or attitudes linked to higher fruit and vegetable intakes.
• Identify strategies schools could use to enhance consumption of fruits and vegetables in conjunction with this federal program.

Keywords: Nutrition, School Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.pdf format, 185.7 kb)