title: Fruit and vegetable consumption in a sample of 11-year-old children in ten European countries--the PRO GREENS cross-sectional survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe fruit and vegetable intake of 11-year-old children in ten European countries and compare it with current dietary guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey. Intake was assessed using a previously validated questionnaire containing a pre-coded 24 h recall and an FFQ which were completed in the classroom. Portion sizes were calculated using a standardized protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surveys were performed in schools regionally selected in eight countries and nationally representative in two countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 8158 children from 236 schools across Europe participating in the PRO GREENS project.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total mean consumption of fruit and vegetables was between 220 and 345 g/d in the ten participating countries. Mean intakes did not reach the WHO population goal of ≥400 g/d in any of the participating countries. Girls had a significantly higher intake of total fruit and vegetables than boys in five of the countries (Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Bulgaria and Slovenia). Mean total fruit intake ranged between 114 and 240 g/d and vegetable intake between 73 and 141 g/d. When using the level ≥400 g/d as a cut-off, only 23·5 % (13·8-37·0 %) of the studied children, depending on country and gender, met the WHO recommendation (fruit juice excluded).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fruit and vegetable consumption was below recommended levels among the schoolchildren in all countries and vegetable intake was lower than fruit intake. The survey shows that there is a need for promotional activities to improve fruit and vegetable consumption in this age group.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Biosciences and Nutrition,Karolinska Institutet,NOVUM,SE 141 83 Huddinge,Stockholm,Sweden.
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.affiliation: 2Unit for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition,School of Health Sciences,University of Iceland & Landspitali University Hospital,Reykjavik,Iceland.
authors.forename: Asa Gudrun
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kristjansdottir
authors.affiliation: 3EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research and Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics,VU University Medical Center,Amsterdam,The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Saskia J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Te Velde
authors.affiliation: 4Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine,University of Oslo,Oslo,Norway.
authors.forename: Nanna
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lien
authors.affiliation: 5Folkhälsan Research Center,Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.affiliation: 2Unit for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition,School of Health Sciences,University of Iceland & Landspitali University Hospital,Reykjavik,Iceland.
authors.forename: Inga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thorsdottir
authors.affiliation: 7Institute of Nutritional Sciences,Unit for International Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural Nutrition,Environmental Sciences and Home Economics,Justus-Liebig University,Giessen,Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krawinkel
authors.affiliation: 8Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences,University of Porto,Porto,Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Daniel Vaz
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.affiliation: 9Department of Social Medicine,Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic,University of Crete,Heraklion,Crete,Greece.
authors.forename: Angeliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papadaki
authors.affiliation: 11National Institute of Public Health,Ljubljana,Slovenia.
authors.forename: Cirila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hlastan Ribic
authors.affiliation: 12National Center for Public Health Protection,Sofia,Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Stefka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petrova
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Biosciences and Nutrition,Karolinska Institutet,NOVUM,SE 141 83 Huddinge,Stockholm,Sweden.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ehrenblad
authors.affiliation: 2Unit for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition,School of Health Sciences,University of Iceland & Landspitali University Hospital,Reykjavik,Iceland.
authors.forename: Thorhallur I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Halldorsson
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Biosciences and Nutrition,Karolinska Institutet,NOVUM,SE 141 83 Huddinge,Stockholm,Sweden.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poortvliet
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Biosciences and Nutrition,Karolinska Institutet,NOVUM,SE 141 83 Huddinge,Stockholm,Sweden.
authors.forename: Agneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yngve
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D064787:Portion Size; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables; D044465:White People; D014944:World Health Organization