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Fruit and vegetable availability enables adolescent consumption that exceeds national average.
Jennifer Di Noia1, Isobel R Contento
1Department of Sociology, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ 07470, USA. dinoiaj@wpunj.edu
Nutrition Research (New York, N.Y.)
|July 24, 2010
Summary
Providing fruit, juice, and vegetables (FJV) in community settings increased adolescent consumption. This strategy shows promise for improving diets, though interventions may be needed to boost vegetable and fruit intake, especially at lunch.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Adolescent Health
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- Availability of fruit, juice, and vegetables (FJV) at home and school positively impacts adolescent consumption.
- Limited research exists on FJV availability in community settings and its influence on adolescent intake.
- Understanding community-based influences is crucial for promoting healthy eating habits in youth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of high FJV availability on fruit and vegetable consumption in African American adolescents.
- To compare FJV intake in a community setting with national population averages.
- To investigate differences in FJV intake by sex, age, and mealtime.
Main Methods:
- Study involved 156 African American adolescents (ages 10-14) in a summer camp program.
- Participants were provided with 9 servings of FJV daily for 3 consecutive days.
- Intake was measured via direct observation; differences by sex, age, and meal were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Adolescents consumed a mean of 5.41 daily servings of FJV, significantly higher than the US population mean of 3.6 servings.
- Younger adolescents (10 years old) consumed more FJV than older participants (11-13 years old).
- Consumption was lower at lunch compared to breakfast and dinner, with juice being consumed more than whole fruits or vegetables.
Conclusions:
- Increasing FJV availability in community settings is an effective strategy to boost adolescent fruit and vegetable intake.
- Interventions may be beneficial to address age-related declines in consumption and increase intake during lunch.
- Promoting consumption of whole fruits and vegetables over juice is also recommended.
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