title: Design and evaluation of a campaign to promote the consumption of vegetables and fruits in Mexican school-age children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Mexican school-age children the consumption of vegetables and fruits (V&F) is less than 25% of the amount recommended by the World Health Organization.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the effectiveness of a promotion campaign about the consumption of V&F in urban school children from Hidalgo, Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  A non controlled community trial in 226 school-age children from private and public schools was conducted, we designed and distributed printed material for promoting the consumption of V&F among the school population, access to V&F was provided through planning and sales at school stores, and consumption was supervised by the teachers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the intervention vegetable consumption increased by 50 g and plain water in 100 mL (T-test, p < 0.05); the proportion of school-age children who identified the health benefits of the consumption of V&F increased significantly (68% initial, 87% final) and greater support from parents (61% initial, 92 final%) was achieved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A promotion campaign and improved access to vegetables, fruits and water in the school environment which is supported by parents and teachers can encourage healthier eating at school.
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health Sciences. Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo. Pachuca. mgalvan73@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galván
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ríos-Pérez
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: López-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guzmán-Saldaña
authors.forename: Trinidad Lorena
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Fernández-Cortés
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Camacho-Bernal
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robles-Acevedo
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools; D014675:Vegetables
keywords: Promotion of school  health. Vegetables.  Fruits. Healthy eating.