title: Evaluation of a school-based multicomponent nutrition education program to improve young children's fruit and vegetable consumption.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of a multicomponent nutrition education program on student knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to consumption of fruits and vegetables (FVs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Quasi-experimental pretest/posttest research design; 3 study conditions (Intervention+, Intervention, Comparison).
  
  
  METHODS
  Six schools from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred ninety-nine low-income third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Intervention+ condition included 4 components: traditional Network-LAUSD program, new standardized nutrition curriculum, teacher training workshops, and parent nutrition education workshops. The Intervention condition included 2 components: traditional Network-LAUSD program and teacher training workshops.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fruit and vegetable consumption, knowledge of food groups, attitudes and beliefs toward FVs, and parent/teacher influence on students' attitudes toward FVs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Linear mixed models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Intervention+ resulted in a positive change in knowledge (P < .05), attitudes and beliefs toward vegetables (P < .01), and teacher influence on students' FV attitudes (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this study influenced knowledge and attitudes regarding FVs, a significant increase in students' FV consumption was not observed. Given the ultimate aim of the LAUSD nutrition efforts is to increase FV consumption, future studies should consider adopting new intervention strategies, such as focusing on changing the school food environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California-Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. mprelip@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prelip
authors.forename: Janni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kinsler
authors.forename: Chan Le
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Thai
authors.forename: Jennifer Toller
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Erausquin
authors.forename: Wendelin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Slusser
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools; D014675:Vegetables