Longitudinal behavioral effects of a school-based fruit and vegetable promotion program.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• School Health Programs
• Dietary Interventions

Background:

• Childhood consumption of fruits and vegetables (F&V) is often suboptimal.
• Early life dietary habits influence long-term health outcomes.
• School-based interventions offer a promising avenue to improve children's nutrition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the longitudinal impact of a comprehensive school-based program on fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption in kindergarten and first-grade children.
• To assess the program's effectiveness over two academic years.

Main Methods:

• A school-based intervention program with lunchroom, classroom, school-wide, and family components was implemented.
• Fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption at lunch was measured using weighed plate waste.
• Hierarchical linear models analyzed differences between intervention and control groups, accounting for repeated measures.

Main Results:

• Children in the intervention group consumed significantly more F&V at the end of Year 1 (29g fruit, 6g vegetables per lunch).
• At the end of Year 2, the intervention group showed increased fruit consumption (21g per lunch) but not vegetable consumption compared to the control group.
• The program demonstrated a positive effect on overall F&V intake, with sustained increases in fruit intake.

Conclusions:

• The school-based intervention effectively increased fruit and vegetable consumption among young children.
• The positive effects on fruit intake were more pronounced and enduring than those for vegetables.
• Findings support the integration of multi-component school programs to promote healthy eating habits in early childhood.