Increasing dark green leafy, yellow/orange, cruciferous vegetables, tomatoes, and physical activity in a low-income population: an evaluation of a critical thinking approach

Abstract

Parents of Drake University Head Start, in Polk County, Iowa collected grocery register receipts (GRR) for two weeks before and after an intervention to determine the effectiveness of a critical thinking approach in increasing offerings of dark green leafy, yellow/orange, cruciferous vegetables, tomatoes and physical activity in Head Start children. From the GRR it was possible to identify purchases of dark green leafy, yellow/orange, cruciferous vegetables, and tomatoes, and other information such as the grocery stores where food was purchased, the average number of trips to the store, and forms of payment used for grocery purchases. Due to the small number of participants collecting GRR at pre and posttest it was difficult to use the grocery receipt to supplement information obtained on vegetable offering recall from the larger study. However, the GRR provided an easy, cost-effective approach to identifying vegetable purchases and to determine individuals at risk for intakes of dark green leafy, yellow/orange, cruciferous vegetables, tomatoes and tomato products.