D Brewer1, S Hershberger2, L Gaetke1. 1. University of Kentucky, Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, Lexington, USA. 2. Miami University of Ohio, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Oxford, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated whether providing the Fruits and Vegetables (F/V) required by the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) increased phytochemical/antioxidant content of school lunches. Additionally, the ability of adolescents to apply their nutritional knowledge following participation in a nutrition-focused science-based curriculum was assessed. METHODS: Changes in antioxidant/phytochemical content from F/V offered in school lunch menus were analyzed Pre-and Post-HHFKA. Food logs completed by 717 youth aged 10-18 were analyzed for correctly identifying "fighting foods". RESULTS: Significant increases in antioxidant/phytochemical content resulted following implementation of HHFKA (P<0.05). Seventy-five percent [0, 100] of the time students accurately identified "fighting foods" in their one-day in-school food log (n=468). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Creatively incorporating nutrition education into core curriculum, when paired with a supportive built environment that increases F/V access (HHFKA), generates a multilevel intervention promoting F/V consumption among school-aged youth.
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated whether providing the Fruits and Vegetables (F/V) required by the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) increased phytochemical/antioxidant content of school lunches. Additionally, the ability of adolescents to apply their nutritional knowledge following participation in a nutrition-focused science-based curriculum was assessed. METHODS: Changes in antioxidant/phytochemical content from F/V offered in school lunch menus were analyzed Pre-and Post-HHFKA. Food logs completed by 717 youth aged 10-18 were analyzed for correctly identifying "fighting foods". RESULTS: Significant increases in antioxidant/phytochemical content resulted following implementation of HHFKA (P<0.05). Seventy-five percent [0, 100] of the time students accurately identified "fighting foods" in their one-day in-school food log (n=468). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Creatively incorporating nutrition education into core curriculum, when paired with a supportive built environment that increases F/V access (HHFKA), generates a multilevel intervention promoting F/V consumption among school-aged youth.
Entities:
Keywords:
Environmental contaminants; Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act; Phytochemicals; School lunch and/or National school lunch program
Authors: Michael C Petriello; Bradley J Newsome; Thomas D Dziubla; J Zach Hilt; Dibakar Bhattacharyya; Bernhard Hennig Journal: Sci Total Environ Date: 2014-02-13 Impact factor: 7.963