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Multicenter Study
. 2014 Nov;17(11):2436-44.
doi: 10.1017/S1368980014001347. Epub 2014 Jul 15.

Fruit and vegetable consumption in a sample of 11-year-old children in ten European countries--the PRO GREENS cross-sectional survey

Christel Lynch  1 , Asa Gudrun Kristjansdottir  2 , Saskia J Te Velde  3 , Nanna Lien  4 , Eva Roos  5 , Inga Thorsdottir  2 , Michael Krawinkel  6 , Maria Daniel Vaz de Almeida  7 , Angeliki Papadaki  8 , Cirila Hlastan Ribic  9 , Stefka Petrova  10 , Bettina Ehrenblad  1 , Thorhallur I Halldorsson  2 , Eric Poortvliet  1 , Agneta Yngve  1
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Fruit and vegetable consumption in a sample of 11-year-old children in ten European countries--the PRO GREENS cross-sectional survey

Christel Lynch et al. Public Health Nutr. 2014 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: To describe fruit and vegetable intake of 11-year-old children in ten European countries and compare it with current dietary guidelines.

Design: Cross-sectional survey. Intake was assessed using a previously validated questionnaire containing a pre-coded 24 h recall and an FFQ which were completed in the classroom. Portion sizes were calculated using a standardized protocol.

Setting: Surveys were performed in schools regionally selected in eight countries and nationally representative in two countries.

Subjects: A total of 8158 children from 236 schools across Europe participating in the PRO GREENS project.

Results: The total mean consumption of fruit and vegetables was between 220 and 345 g/d in the ten participating countries. Mean intakes did not reach the WHO population goal of ≥400 g/d in any of the participating countries. Girls had a significantly higher intake of total fruit and vegetables than boys in five of the countries (Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Bulgaria and Slovenia). Mean total fruit intake ranged between 114 and 240 g/d and vegetable intake between 73 and 141 g/d. When using the level ≥400 g/d as a cut-off, only 23·5 % (13·8-37·0 %) of the studied children, depending on country and gender, met the WHO recommendation (fruit juice excluded).

Conclusions: Fruit and vegetable consumption was below recommended levels among the schoolchildren in all countries and vegetable intake was lower than fruit intake. The survey shows that there is a need for promotional activities to improve fruit and vegetable consumption in this age group.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mean distribution (%) of vegetable intake by preparation method and type (formula image, cooked vegetables; formula image, soup vegetables; formula image, raw vegetables; formula image, salad vegetables) per country (24 h recall) among 11-year-old children (n 8158) from 236 schools across ten European countries participating in the PRO GREENS project, April–October 2009
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Distribution (%) of intake frequencies (times per day) of (a) fruits (formula image, >2 times/d; formula image, 2 times/d; formula image, 1 time/d; formula image, <1 time/d) and (b) vegetables (formula image, ≥2 times/d; formula image, 1 time/d; formula image, <1 time/d) per country (FFQ) among 11-year-old children (n 8158) from 236 schools across ten European countries participating in the PRO GREENS project, April–October 2009
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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