Type of Document	Thesis
Author	Zimmerman, Jennifer Medina
URN	etd-05062004-155145
Title	Evaluating the effect of a Nutrition Intervention on Fruit and Vegetable Choices by Students in Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, through the Use of Daily Production Records.
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Science, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Laura Cook Committee Member
Keywords	Production Records School Food Service Fruit and Vegetable Choices. School Nutrition Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Interventions
Date of Defense	2004-04-23
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract The rising prevalence of obesity in the United States is a serious health concern. The increased prevalence of obesity in children has motivated researchers and health professionals to work in the community to educate and implement interventions to improve the dietary habits of American children. Schools provide an excellent setting for nutrition interventions aimed at children. Increasing fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption among children is an effective way to promote and teach healthy food habits and to reduce obesity by substituting FV for foods high in fat, cholesterol, sodium, and sugar. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a nutrition intervention on FV choices by students using daily production records. Daily production records (DPR) were evaluated from three Florida districts during two consecutive school years. There were nine schools in the three districts who implemented interventions. Intervention activities included addition of salad bars, promotion of FV, sampling of FV, increasing variety and quantity of FV available, and improved merchandising of FV. Data measured were FV servings chosen by students since consumption could not be determined without additional observations or plate waste data. The total number of FV servings chosen per student per lunch period per school was determined by subtracting the number of leftover FV servings from the number of FV servings prepared. Numbers of servings of different types of FV were added together for each day. FV servings were divided by the total number of students who participated in the National School Lunch Program for each lunch period at each school. FV servings were compared pre- and post-intervention to evaluate any changes. Results showed an increase from 1.44 to 1.65 servings per student. Data were also analyzed by district and school type. Two of the three school districts showed significant increases in FV servings chosen per student. Elementary and Middle schools also showed significant increases in FV choices. It can be concluded from these results that the use of DPR is a useful method for measuring FV servings to assess interventions in a school setting when the aim of the intervention is focused on promotion of FV and increasing FV choices and consumption.
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