Degree
Master of Science
Program
Foods and Nutrition
Supervisor
Seabrook, Jamie
Affiliation
Brescia University College
2nd Supervisor
O'Connor, Colleen
Affiliation
Brescia University College
Co-Supervisor
3rd Supervisor
Gilliland, Jason
Co-Supervisor
Abstract
Background: In Canada, 70% of youth are not meeting the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables (FV) daily. School nutrition programs are one strategy for improving dietary habits in youth.
Methods: A two-year pilot cluster randomized controlled trial was implemented within Southwestern Ontario to assess how a ten-week centrally-procured school food program (CPSFP) influences students’ consumption and instances of FV compared to the traditional school nutrition program (TSNP).
Results: Children were 9-13 years of age; 30 schools received the CPSFP and 30 received the TSNP. Vegetable consumption did not change with the CPSFP (mean=0.0; SD=1.0) or the TSNP (mean=0.0; SD=1.0; p=0.94). Fruit consumption did not change with the CPSFP (mean=0.0; SD=1.4) and decreased by 0.1 servings (SD=1.4) with the TSNP (p=0.06). Instances of vegetables and fruit were similar between groups.
Conclusions: The CPSFP resulted in no significant change in consumption or instances of FV.
Recommended Citation
Charbonneau, Kimberly D., "The Influence of a Centrally-Procured School Food Program on Consumption and Instances of Fruits and Vegetables in School-Age Children" (2019). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 6062.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/6062