Factors within the family environment such as parents’ dietary habits and fruit and vegetable availability have the greatest influence on fruit and vegetable consumption by Polish children

Abstract

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...

Prevalence and determinants of sufficient fruit and vegetable consumption among primary school children in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

“…The present study also shows maternal education is positively associated with fruit intake and total fruit and/or vegetable intake. This agrees in part with the findings of a Polish study [39], which found parental education influenced fruit, but not vegetable, consumption. Mothers educated to a higher level are more likely to pay attention to healthy dietary habits and contribute to fruit and vegetable consumption, particularly fruit consumption, because children readily eat fruits, fruit preparation is easier, and fruit is a well-known healthy dietary component [39].…”

“…It has been reported that home availability of fruit and vegetable is the most important determinant of fruit and vegetable consumption among children [1820212223373940] due to a direct effect on fruit and vegetable consumption and the indirect effects of parental example [41]. One study conducted in Iceland reported fruit and vegetable availability at home seems to be a more important determinant of vegetable consumption by children than of fruit consumption [22].…”

“…To provide a supportive home environment, the consumption of fruit and vegetable, but particularly of vegetables, should be promoted among parents as well as children [39]. Moreover, in order to reinforce the healthy eating habits of children, dietary education should be continued at schools [39]. Therefore, we recommend that interventions be based on environment policy-based designs at the family and school levels.…”

Design and evaluation of a campaign to promote the consumption of vegetables and fruits in Mexican school-age children

“…In this intervention the proportion of school children who reported having the support of their parents to achieve the consumption of vegetables and fruits in school increased; it has been found in other studies that parental encouragement can influence their children to consume V&F, providing them the food and continually encouraging them to consume them (25), so interventions aimed at promoting the consumption of vegetables and fruits in children must train parents and help them prepare more attractive dishes for their children.…”

Postnatal Prevention of Childhood Obesity in Offspring Prenatally Exposed to Gestational Diabetes mellitus: Where Are We Now

“…On the other hand, a sibling study where exposure to the environment - such as lifestyle - was similar showed that there was no difference in BMI between siblings exposed versus those unexposed to GDM in utero [75]. These results suggest that the environmental influence of lifestyle habits has a stronger influence than intrauterine exposure to GDM in the development of obesity in children, because siblings generally have similar lifestyle habits [75,76,77]. …”