Increasing children's fruit and vegetable consumption: distribution or a multicomponent programme?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Public Health Interventions
• School-based Health Programs

Background:

• Low fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption is a significant public health concern in children.
• School environments offer a crucial setting for implementing dietary interventions.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of different intervention strategies is essential for optimizing public health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of two distinct school-based interventions on children's fruit and vegetable intake.
• To compare the efficacy of a free F&V distribution program versus a multicomponent program (classroom curriculum and parental involvement).
• To identify which intervention is more effective for specific demographic subgroups (age, gender, ethnicity).

Main Methods:

• A pre-test, post-test design was employed across six primary schools, with interventions randomly assigned.
• Interventions included a free F&V distribution program and a multicomponent program.
• Dietary intake was measured using food recalls and F&V-specific food-frequency questionnaires in 939 children (aged 4-12).

Main Results:

• Both interventions significantly increased children's fruit consumption by 0.2 portions per day.
• The F&V distribution program enhanced vegetable intake in non-native children and older age groups.
• The multicomponent program showed benefits for vegetable intake in older children and girls, and increased overall 24-hour fruit and vegetable intake across various age groups.

Conclusions:

• Both school-based interventions demonstrated effectiveness in improving children's F&V intake, with varying impacts across different subgroups.
• The free F&V distribution program showed a greater advantage in increasing vegetable consumption.
• Further research is needed to determine the optimal intervention for widespread implementation in primary schools.