Evaluating changeability to improve fruit and vegetable intake among school aged children

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Childhood nutrition interventions require targeted strategies.
• Identifying specific, changeable fruits and vegetables is key for dietary change.
• Community settings present unique challenges for dietary interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a method for selecting fruits and vegetables for child-focused dietary interventions.
• To evaluate the concept of fruit and vegetable 'changeability' in a community setting.
• To assess the feasibility of applying this selection approach.

Main Methods:

• Developed a multi-step process including dietary databases, demographic data, and intervention potential.
• Employed a quasi-experimental design with 304 children (aged 7-9) in St. Louis, MO.
• Utilized food frequency questionnaires administered at baseline and 8-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in fruit consumption (p < .001) were observed, but not for vegetables (p = .312).
• Children in the intervention group increased intake of grapes, peaches, cantaloupe, and spinach.
• These targeted foods were identified as 'changeable' based on the study's methodology.

Conclusions:

• Data-driven, food-specific interventions are practical and feasible for priority populations.
• The described methodology supports a novel approach to dietary interventions.
• The approach may be more effective for fruits than vegetables, warranting further investigation.