Evaluating a fruit and vegetable program: in eastern Ontario schools.
OBJECTIVE
Effectiveness was evaluated for a fruit and vegetable program developed to encourage Canadian elementary school children to eat the recommended number of daily servings. Also examined was whether the program modified children's personal factors, perceived social environment, and perceived physical environment.


METHODS
A prospective, quasi-experimental trial was conducted to compare the eight schools receiving the intervention curriculum (Freggie Friday schools [FFS]) with six control schools (CS). A food frequency questionnaire was used to measure differences in fruit and vegetable consumption. Personal factors, perceived social environment, and perceived physical environment supporting fruit and vegetable consumption were assessed with an adapted version of the validated Pro Children study questionnaire.


RESULTS
Of the 942 children who completed the baseline assessment, 807 also completed the follow-up questionnaire (FFS, 450; CS, 357). A mixed-effects regression model indicated no significant intervention effects on fruit or vegetable consumption, snack food consumption, or knowledge or attitudes related to fruit and vegetable consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that an intervention based on a single visit from an external group, followed by teacher-led programming, may be an ineffective method of eliciting dietary behaviour change in this population. Future programs may need to implement multicomponent intervention designs.
University of Ottawa.
Kristi B
KB
Adamo
University of Ottawa.
Gary S
GS
Goldfield
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
Cynthia K
CK
Colapinto
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
Kimberly P
KP
Grattan
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
Alysha
A
Harvey
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
Nick
N
Barrowman
D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D009864:Ontario; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D062410:Snacks; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables