Free Fruit and Vegetable Snacks a Big Hit in Schools

Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)

Consumption of fruit and vegetables among children is generally below recommended levels. This evaluation addressed two questions: (1) To what extent did children's attitudes toward, familiarity with, and preferences for fruit and vegetables change during the school year? and (2) To what extent did children's consumption of fruit and vegetables change during the school year? During the 2004-2005 school year, the Mississippi Department of Education, Child Nutrition Programs initiated a pilot program to distribute free fruit and vegetables to students (kindergarten through 12th grade) during the school day. Data were collected in 2004-2005 within a one-group pretest/posttest design using a self-report questionnaire (n=725) and 24-hour dietary recalls (n=207) with a sample of students from five schools in Mississippi. Data were analyzed in 2006-2007. Results showed greater familiarity with fruit and vegetables at all grade levels (p<0.05) and increased preferences for fruit ...

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2015

Background Fewer than 10% of US children and adolescents consume the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables (F/V). The US Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is intended to increase child F/V consumption by funding low-income schools to distribute free fresh F/V snacks outside of school mealtimes. Objective The evaluation assessed FFVP effects on student F/V consumption and total energy intake in and out of school. Design The evaluation employed a regression discontinuity design; that is, crosssectional comparisons of a sample of students in schools just above and just below the FFVP funding cutoff for the program, which depended on the proportion of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals. During the 2010-2011 school year within a randomly selected sample of states, we selected schools in closest proximity to each state-specific FFVP funding cutoff. Interviewers conducted 24-hour diary-assisted recall interviews to assess dietary intake among children in selected schools. Participants/setting Participants were 4,696 students (grades 4 to 6) from 214 elementary schools in 16 randomly selected states. Statistical analyses performed Analysis proceeded via multivariate regression, comparing adjusted mean student intake in schools just above and just below the funding cutoff. Results Adjusted mean daily F/V intake was one-third of a cup per day higher in FFVPparticipating schools than in nonparticipating schools (0.32 cups per day; P<0.001), a difference of 15.5%. This included one-quarter cup higher daily F/V intake during school hours (0.26 cups; P<0.001) among students attending FFVP-participating schools. Fresh (but not total) F/V consumption also increased outside of school. Conclusions The FFVP increases child fresh and total F/V intake in school, and fresh F/V intake outside of school.

WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin, 2008

In 2002, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) created the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) to improve nutrition and help reduce the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity. The FFVP provides funding for students from selected schools in each participating state to receive a free fresh fruit or vegetable snack daily for an academic year. In November 2005, Wisconsin was added to this program. In this study, we evaluate whether the Wisconsin FFVP resulted in positive changes in children&#39;s attitudes and behavior related to eating fruits and vegetables. In 2006, 25 Wisconsin schools were selected by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for FFVP participation. Study measures included a pre-test and post-test survey given to 4th, 7th, and 9th graders in the intervention and controls schools. Post-test data from all 25 intervention schools were not yet available for analysis. Our sample, therefore, consisted of 1127 participants: 784 students in 10 interventi...

ISRN Public Health, 2012

Objectives. We evaluated the effects of a Department of Education Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) on food consumption habits in an inner-city, San Francisco high school.Methods. One intervention high school received a California state grant from the Department of Education to distribute fruit biweekly from fall 2008 to spring 2010 and coordinate associated nutrition education. Students completed 1793 surveys at the intervention school and 778 surveys at a comparison school that assessed fruit, vegetable, fast food and soda consumption habits. Pearson&#39;s chi-squared tests were used to compare consumption of foods.Results. At the end of the intervention period, the percentage of students consuming soft drinks once or more per day was significantly lower in the intervention versus comparison school (3.1% versus 8.9%, ). Consumption of candy once or more per week was also lower in the intervention versus the comparison school in fall 2009 (55.7% versus 64.0%, ). No significa...

The Journal of Child Nutrition & Management, 2014

Purpose/Objectives The US Department of Agriculture created its Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) to address poor nutrition and rising obesity among children. The FFVP allocates funding for selected elementary schools with at least 50% free/reduced price school meal enrollments to provide free fresh fruit and vegetable snacks to students. The purpose of this case study in one Wisconsin FFVP-funded school is to provide 1) an account of what fruits and vegetables were served and consumed and 2) information about FFVP implementation, including benefits, challenges and opportunities for collaborative partnerships. Methods Seventy-six 4th and 5th grade students, four teachers, and the school nutrition director participated in this study. Teachers recorded student consumption of fruits and vegetables over 95 days. The school nutrition director provided information through a telephone interview. Results Fruits were served 66 times, and vegetables were served 29 times. Most items wer...

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2013

Objective: Preliminary evaluation in the United States (US) of a school-based fruit and vegetable (F/V) intervention, known as the Food Dudes (FD) program, developed in the United Kingdom. Methods: Over 16 days (Phase 1), elementary-school children (n ¼ 253) watched short videos featuring heroic peers (the FD) eating F/V and received a reward for eating F/V served at lunchtime. In the 3 months that followed (Phase 2), children received increasingly intermittent rewards for eating F/V. Consumption was measured by photo analysis and assessment of skin carotenoids. Results: Fruit and vegetable intake increased significantly after Phases 1 and 2 (P < .001 for both). This effect was most discriminable among children who consumed no fruit (n ¼ 100) or no vegetables (n ¼ 119) at pre-intervention baseline. Among these children, F/V intake (combined) increased by 0.49 (0.53) cups per day. Conclusions and Implications: The FD program can increase F/V intake in US elementary schools.

BACKGROUND: We attempted to determine effects of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) on variety and frequency of fruit and vegetable intake by students in schools from different locales. METHODS: Data were derived from the 2011-2012 Indiana FFVP Student Survey completed by 4229 fourth-sixth graders. Effects were studied within 2 groups, 39 city and suburb schools, and 12 town and rural schools. Differences in students’ responses over time to 2 items measuring variety and 10 items measuring fruit and vegetable intake frequency were determined with multilevel regression models. RESULTS: Town and rural students were 1.2 times more likely to eat different kinds of fruit (p=.04) and vegetables (p=.01) daily, and increased fruit (+1.0 time/day; p < .01) and vegetable intake frequency (+0.5 times/day; p = .03). City and suburb students increased fruit intake frequency (∼0.8 times/day; p < .01) but not vegetable intake frequency or daily variety (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: FFVP improved fruit and vegetable eating behaviors in the ‘‘town and rural’’ group, but was only partially effective in the ‘‘city and suburb’’ group. Strategies to implement FFVP may need to differ depending on school locale. Keywords: child and adolescent health; nutrition and diet; fruit and vegetable consumption.

thesis

Middle East Studies Association Bulletin, 1988