Objective: To identify determinants of fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption among school-aged children. Design: A survey study was conducted in October 2010. The questionnaire contained questions concerning social and demographic data, lifestyle and dietary habits, particularly the frequency of F&V consumption, availability of F&V and knowledge about recommended amounts of F&V intake. Setting: Polish primary schools. Subjects: Children (n 1255) aged 9 years from randomly selected primary schools and their parents. Results: The children's consumption of fruit and of vegetables was influenced by the fruit consumption and vegetable consumption of their parents (r = 0·333 and r = 0·273, respectively; P = 0·001), parents encouraging their children to eat F&V (r = 0·259 and r = 0·271, respectively; P = 0·001), giving children F&V to take to school (r = 0·338 and r = 0·321, respectively; P = 0·001) and the availability of F&V at home (r = 0·200 and r = 0·296, respectively; P = 0·001). Parental education influenced only the frequency of fruit consumption (r = 0·074; P = 0·01). A correlation between parents' knowledge of the recommended intakes and the frequency of vegetable and fruit consumption by children was noticed (r = 0·258 and r = 0·192, respectively, P = 0·001). Conclusions: Factors within the family environment such as parents' dietary habits and F&V availability had the greatest influence on the F&V consumption by children. Educational activities aimed at parents are crucial to increase the consumption of F&V among children. Keywords Vegetable consumption Fruit consumption Children nutrition Determinants of consumptionChildhood is a crucial period within the process of shaping correct dietary habits, including the consumption of fruit and vegetables (F&V) (1) . Studies show that the dietary habits and preferences shaped during childhood and adolescence are continued into adult life (1,2) and that a diet rich in vegetables and fruit lowers the risk of many chronic diseases (3) . There are many factors which may influence the consumption of F&V by children. Apart from preferences, these factors include age, sex, domicile, social and economic factors, parents' education, parents' dietary habits concerning the consumption of F&V and the availability of F&V at home (4)(5)(6)(7) . Studies show that the consumption of F&V by children from different populations, including Polish children, is unsatisfactory, deviating from the recommendations on the amounts and well as the frequency of consumption (4,(8)(9)(10)(11) .F&V constitute a very important element of healthy nutrition. In a child's diet there should be approximately five portions of F&V each day. These foods are a vital source of antioxidants, fibre, vitamins and minerals. That is why they are a necessary element of a daily diet (3) . The majority of benefits from eating F&V result from the lowering of the risk of CVD, but F&V may also lower the risk of certain kinds of cancer. Research from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrit...

Background: The School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) was developed to form the habit of eating fruit and vegetables (F&V) among children. The survey aimed to identify both the strengths of the scheme and areas that required support and strengthening in the further implementation of school schemes. Methods: The study was conducted from 2012 to 2015 among students of randomly selected 85 primary schools that participated in the programme (intervention group) or did not participate therein (control group). The F&V consumption among the students was evaluated based on the 3 day food record method. Other behaviours were evaluated via frequency and preference questionnaires. Results: Over the three years of implementing SFVS, fruit consumption significantly increased by approximately 30 g/day, i.e., by 18%. In the control group, it increased only by approximately 4%. At the same time, no increase in vegetable consumption was observed. A number of other positive effects of SFVS were also found. These concerned students’ nutritional attitudes and behaviours, such as a further increase in the children’s knowledge on the health aspects of F&V consumption, the levels of their consumption and an increased preference for fruit in general. Conclusions: The results indicate that providing F&V in schools free of charge can be an effective strategy for enhancing F&V consumption among children, in particular by raising the awareness of the health importance of F&V consumption and gradually influencing children’s eating habits, especially when it comes to the habit of fruit consumption. The issue of vegetable consumption is an area for intervention enhancement. There is also a need for further, in-depth analyses, taking into account the impact of potential confounding factors.

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Background. The effects of a two-year educational Programme “Keep Balance” addressed to children and adolescents have been evaluated. Its purpose has been to implement the rules of proper nutrition and increasing the level of physical activity on the population level. Objective. The main objective of the evaluation was an indication if, after two years of programme activities, outcome indicators have been achieved. Material and methods. Approximately 400,000 pupils/students from 1600 educational units from the territory of the whole country have been included in the education programme. The efficiency evaluation has been carried out in a sample of n = 1506 pupils/students in the interventional group and n = 1589 in the control group. Education has been addressed to the entire school environment, pupils, students, parents, teachers, headmasters, and the local community. The survey methodology, body weight and height measurements, the BMI index, and EUROFIT physical fitness tests have been used to assess the effects of the education programme in the scope of knowledge and nutritional behaviour regarding physical activity. There were assumed outcome indicators. The certification of schools/kindergartens with “The Certificate of a School/Kindergarten Friendly to Nutrition and Physical Activity” has been used to evaluate the activation of school environments. Results. There was an improvement achieved over the assumed target points in the level of knowledge of pupils/students in the scope of nutrition and the role of physical activity, in the changes of nutritional habits, and in the results of physical fitness tests. There were achieved 20% increase in knowledge in the scope of nutrition and 5% increase in physical activity. There have been changes in the frequency in the consumption of the first breakfast before going to school (by 25% among the younger ones and by 17% among the older ones), an increase in the consumption of bottled water by 49% and reduction of sweet drinks by 19%. The percentage of the pupils/students consuming the recommended 5 meals increased by 33%. Physical fitness indicators were achieved over assumed 5% increase in the individual exercise tests. The Certificate was obtained after meeting the criteria and documenting the durability of the changes by 65% of 1600 educational units included in the Programme. A decrease in the frequency of overweight and obesity occurrence in the whole intervention sample by 1% was obtained; it was greater (but statistically insignificant) among younger students by 3.3% in comparison to the older ones where there was an increase of 1%. Conclusions. Summing up all achieved results the educational programme “Keep Balance” implemented on the population level aimed at children and adolescents has turned out to be effective and deserves to be continued after minor adjustments. Many positive changes have been identified as well as those that ought to be improved. Comprehensively included education and sometimes small changes in much of nutritional and physical behaviour have influenced the reduction of the percentage of pupils/students with excessive body weight, despite the fact that the average BMI has basically remained on the same level.

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