Perception of Fruit Intake by Children and Adolescents from Low-Income Households and Changes to Their Fruit Intake due to the Healthy Fruit Basket Program
2018
Kim, D., Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea | Kim, K., Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
A program to promote fruit intake by children and adolescents in low-income households in Korea has been initiated; however, only a few studies of its effects have been conducted. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the perception of fruit intake and any changes to fruit consumption attributed to the fruit provision program, which provides fruit to children and adolescents from low-income households twice a week. The subjects were 2,430 children and adolescents participating in the Healthy Fruit Basket program at local children's centers in Seoul from June 2015 to December 2015. Subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire about their fruit knowledge, awareness, preferences, and eating frequencies. All subjects, regardless of school grade, were found to have an inadequate knowledge of recommended intake frequency and amount. Self-assessed fruit intake was higher in elementary school students than in middle and high school students. The preference for fruit was relatively higher than for other snacks, but intake was generally low, with the proportion meeting the recommended intake frequency being only 29.4% of elementary school students and 14.8% of middle and high school students. Since the program started, the mean daily fruit intake frequency increased significantly among middle and high school students. In conclusion, the fruit provision program was effective, particularly among middle and high school students who had a low fruit intake frequency prior to the program. To increase fruit intake of low-income children and adolescents, the program needs to be continued with an increase in fruit supply frequency in conjunction with provision of nutrition education materials related to the recommended frequency and amount of fruit intake.
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