Fruit and vegetable intakes of children and adolescents in the United States

Article Abstract:

Few children in the US appear to meet federal guidelines for daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. Researchers evaluated three-day recalls of diet for a sample of 3148 children between ages 2 and 18. The sample was drawn from all socioeconomic levels, and from the 48 contiguous states. Seven percent of fruit and vegetable consumption was in potato chips, condiments, and candy. These were excluded. Fourteen percent of overall fruit and vegetable consumption and 23% of vegetable intake was consumed as french fries. Fruit and vegetable intake increased somewhat with rising income. Nonetheless, even when such items as the raisins in bread and the tomato sauce on pizza were included, only 1 in 5 children ate 5 or more fruit and vegetable servings per day overall, and only 1 in 14 averaged two fruit servings and three vegetable servings daily. Teenaged boys ate more servings mostly because they ate more french fries. Compliance with guidelines actually fell among teenaged girls compared with younger girls.

Evaluation, Measurement, Nutritional assessment, Ingestion

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A 'five-a-day' fruit and vegetable pack for primary school children. Part I: development and pre-testing

Article Abstract:

Researchers designed and tested a pack aimed at encouraging children to eat more fruit and vegetables. The researchers initially considered a pack, produced by a US food company, which included a fridge chart and stickers. They concluded that pack this would be attractive to children aged 7-10 years but that it had some drawbacks, particularly for UK recipients. They modified this pack and tested the new version with trials, video-recorded focus groups of children and telephone interviews with parents. Another article records a pilot study of the pack's usage.

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A 'five-a-day' fruit and vegetable pack for primary school children. Part II: controlled evaluation in two Scottish schools

Article Abstract:

Researchers conducted trials of a pack designed to encourage children to eat more fruit and vegetables. The pack included a fridge chart with cardboard discs. The researchers investigated the children's eating habits, and their responses to the packs, by using questionnaires over a number of weeks after the packs were distributed and by conducting focus-group discussions. They concluded that the packs were attractive to children, but that consumption of fruit and vegetables had increased by only a very small amount and was still low.

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