Longitudinal behavioral effects of a school-based fruit and vegetable promotion program.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the longitudinal effects of a school-based program on kindergarten and first grade children's fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption.


METHODS
The program included lunchroom, classroom, school-wide, and family components. The primary dependent variable, F&V consumed at lunch, was assessed using weighed plate waste. Hierarchical linear models were used to analyze the differences between intervention and control groups and to account for repeated measurements.


RESULTS
Children in the experimental group consumed more F&V (F = 29 g; V = 6 g; 0.43 portions/lunch; 0.28 servings/lunch) at the end of Year 1 compared with children in the control group. At the end of Year 2, children in the experimental group consumed more fruit (21 g; 0.23 portions/lunch; 0.15 servings/lunch), but not more vegetables compared with children in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The intervention resulted in increased F&V consumption, with more pronounced and enduring effects for fruits than vegetables.
Northeastern University, USA. jesshoffman@neu.edu
Jessica A
JA
Hoffman
Debra L
DL
Franko
Douglas R
DR
Thompson
Thomas J
TJ
Power
Virginia A
VA
Stallings
D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005190:Family; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005518:Food Preferences; D005638:Fruit; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013995:Time; D014675:Vegetables