Changes in fruit and vegetable consumption of third-grade students in body quest: food of the warrior, a 17-class childhood obesity prevention program.
OBJECTIVE
To increase fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption of youth in Body Quest: Food of the Warrior (BQ), a childhood obesity prevention program.


METHODS
Quasi-experimental.


METHODS
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education eligible schools (n = 60).


METHODS
Third-grade students (n = 2,477).


METHODS
Treatment groups (n = 1,674) self-reported foods consumed through the School Lunch Program for 17 weekly assessments; they participated in BQ curriculum, iPad app education, and weekly FV tastings. Control groups (n = 803) completed only pre- and post-assessments.


METHODS
Weekly FV consumed through School Lunch Program.


METHODS
ANCOVA and growth modeling.


RESULTS
From before to after the program, the treatment group demonstrated significant, moderate increases in fruit (P < .01) and vegetable (P < .001) consumptions, increasing from 7 to 8 weekly FV servings. After the program, the treatment group consumed significantly (P < .001) more FV than the control group. Fruit and vegetable consumption increased to class 10 and then stabilized. From before to after the program, all FV predictors were significantly higher and included gender (vegetables), race (FV), and free/reduced lunch (fruit).


CONCLUSIONS
Nutrition programs can increase FV intake. Even moderate increases in FV intake can be an initial step for the prevention of chronic disease.
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education, Auburn University, Auburn, AL. Electronic address: struebj@auburn.edu.
Barbara J
BJ
Struempler
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.
Sondra M
SM
Parmer
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.
Lisa M
LM
Mastropietro
Department of Psychology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA.
Dilbur
D
Arsiwalla
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.
Robert R
RR
Bubb
D002648:Child; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012423:Rural Health; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014675:Vegetables
child; comparative effectiveness research; fruit; overweight; rural health; vegetable