Nutrition Department, College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University, St. Joseph, MN 56374, USA.
J Sch Health. 2010 Oct;80(10):487-92. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2010.00532.x.
Despite evidence in support of the health benefits associated with fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, national data indicate that FV consumption among school-aged children is below recommended levels, particularly among low-income children. School meals offered through the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program can provide an important contribution to child FV intake. This study examines the proportion of fruits and vegetables consumed from school meals programs among ethnically diverse, low socioeconomic status children.
Participants (n = 103) included fourth to sixth grade boys and girls from 4 urban elementary schools in St. Paul, Minnesota serving primarily low-income populations. Research staff interviewed children during school hours and recorded dietary intake via 24-hour recall. Analysis included descriptive statistics using cross tabulations and means.
Average reported mean (SD) daily FV intake was 3.6 (2.5) servings, with 80% of children consuming fewer than 5 daily servings of FV. On average, children consumed over half of their daily FV intake within school. Children with low FV intake (<5 FV servings daily) consumed a higher proportion of their daily intake at school than children with higher FV intake (≥5 FV servings daily) (39% vs 59%; p = .002).
Child FV intake is below recommended levels. School meals provide an important contribution to the daily FV intake among ethnically diverse, low socioeconomic status children, particularly among those with the lowest FV intake. School meals programs promoting FV intake within the school environment may provide an opportunity to encourage increased FV consumption.
尽管有证据表明摄入水果和蔬菜对健康有益，但全国数据显示，学龄儿童的水果和蔬菜摄入量低于推荐水平，尤其是低收入儿童。通过学校早餐计划和国家学校午餐计划提供的学校餐可以为儿童的水果和蔬菜摄入量做出重要贡献。本研究调查了在种族多样化、社会经济地位较低的儿童中，从学校餐计划中摄入的水果和蔬菜的比例。
参与者（n=103）包括明尼苏达州圣保罗市 4 所城市小学的 4 至 6 年级男生和女生，这些学校主要服务于低收入人群。研究人员在上课时间采访了儿童，并通过 24 小时回忆记录了饮食摄入量。分析包括使用交叉表和平均值的描述性统计。
平均报告的每日水果和蔬菜摄入量（SD）为 3.6（2.5）份，80%的儿童每天摄入的水果和蔬菜少于 5 份。平均而言，儿童在校内摄入了超过一半的每日水果和蔬菜摄入量。低水果和蔬菜摄入量（每天摄入<5 份水果和蔬菜）的儿童在校内摄入的每日摄入量比例高于高水果和蔬菜摄入量（每天摄入≥5 份水果和蔬菜）的儿童（39%对 59%；p=0.002）。
儿童的水果和蔬菜摄入量低于推荐水平。学校餐为种族多样化、社会经济地位较低的儿童提供了重要的日常水果和蔬菜摄入量，尤其是那些摄入量最低的儿童。在学校环境中推广学校餐计划以增加水果和蔬菜摄入量可能是一个机会。
