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Assessment of Social Transmission of Food Preferences Behaviors
Published on: January 25, 2018
Patterns in Vegetable Consumption: Implications for Tailored School Meal Interventions.
Marietta Orlowski1, Miryoung Lee2, William Spears1
1Department of Population & Public Health Sciences, Wright State University, 3123 Research Blvd, Suite 200, Kettering, OH 45420.
The Journal of School Health
|April 7, 2017
Summary
Fruit selection in school meals can increase vegetable consumption among students. Leveraging popular fruit options may encourage healthier eating habits and improve overall nutrition in schools.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Vegetable consumption rates are below recommended levels.
- Interventions often show greater increases in fruit consumption than vegetable consumption.
- Understanding vegetable intake in school settings is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe vegetable consumption patterns in Ohio school meals.
- To examine the impact of fruit selection on vegetable consumption among students.
Main Methods:
- Collected fruit and vegetable waste data from 11,250 student trays across 17 elementary and 16 middle/high schools.
- Utilized the quarter-waste visualization method to quantify consumption.
- Analyzed the association between fruit selection and vegetable consumption.
Main Results:
- Approximately 25% of students consumed at least a quarter cup of vegetables with lunch.
- Vegetable consumption was highest (30.8%) in elementary schools with predominantly regular-priced meals.
- Fruit selection significantly correlated with vegetable consumption (p < .001).
- Students selecting fruit were 88% more likely to consume vegetables.
Conclusions:
- Vegetable and fruit consumption represent distinct behaviors requiring separate strategies.
- Fruit can be strategically used to promote vegetable selection in school meal programs.
- Future interventions should consider the interplay between fruit and vegetable choices.
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