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. 2021 Sep;91(9):750-760.
doi: 10.1111/josh.13066. Epub 2021 Jul 21.

A Harvest of the Month Curriculum Increases Fruit and Vegetable Intake among 4th-6th Grade Students

Ron Strochlic  1 , Gail Woodward-Lopez  2 , Sridharshi Hewawitharana  3 , Katharina Streng  4 , Jackie Richardson  5 , Lauren Whetstone  6 , Derek Gorshow  7
Affiliations

A Harvest of the Month Curriculum Increases Fruit and Vegetable Intake among 4th-6th Grade Students

Ron Strochlic et al. J Sch Health. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Most children do not eat enough fruits and vegetables (FV). Schools are a critical setting for supporting children to consume FV. To fill a gap in available materials, a classroom curriculum was developed and evaluated to determine impacts on student FV-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.

Methods: A pre-/post-intervention survey was administered to 4th-6th grade students in 3 intervention and one comparison schools. Post-intervention student focus groups, parent/guardian surveys, and teacher surveys provided complementary information.

Results: Intervention students had a significantly greater increase in total FV intake, fruit intake, and 100% juice consumption, and preference for several types of FV relative to comparison group students. Students, teachers, and parents reported overall high levels of satisfaction with the curriculum.

Conclusions: The Harvest of the Month curriculum is effective at increasing fruit intake among a low-income, diverse student population in grades 4-6, is acceptable to students, teachers, and parents, and is feasible to implement. Findings suggest this impact is the result of changes in preferences, skills, and motivation but not self-efficacy or perceived social norms. Some tailoring of the curriculum may be needed to increase its appropriateness for 6th-grade students, increase the impact on vegetable intake, and limit intake of juice.

Keywords: child and adolescent health; chronic diseases; evaluation; nutrition and diet; school health instruction.

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References

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