Fruit and vegetable intake in a sample of 11-year-old children in 9 European countries: The pro children cross-sectional survey

• Published in: Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism
• Main Authors: Yngve, A. (Agneta), Wolf, A. (Anneke) de, Poortvliet, E. (Eric), Elmadfa, I. (Ibrahim), Brug, J. (Hans), Ehrenblad, B. (Bettina), Franchini, S., Haraldsdóttir, J. (Jóhanna), Krølner, R. (Rikke), Maes, L. (Lea), Perez Rodrigo, C. (C.), Sjöström, M. (Michael), Thorsdottir, I. (Inga), Klepp, K.I. (Knut-Inge)
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: 2005
• Subjects: 24-Hour recall; European schoolchildren; Food frequency; Fruit intake; Pro Children study; Vegetable intake; Iceland
• Online Access: http://repub.eur.nl/pub/73175; https://doi.org/10.1159/000087247

Background/Aims: An adequate fruit and vegetable intake provides essential nutrients and nutritive compounds and is considered an important part of a healthy lifestyle. No simple instrument has been available for the assessment of fruit and vegetable intake as well as its determinants in school-aged children applicable in different European countries. Within the Pro Children Project, such an instrument has been developed. This paper describes the cross-sectional survey in 11-year-olds in 9 countries. Methods: The cross-sectional survey used nationally, and in 2 countries regionally, representative samples of schools and classes. The questionnaires, including a precoded 24-hour recall component and a food frequency part, were completed in the classroom. Data were treated using common syntax files for portion sizes and for merging of vegetable types into four subgroups. Results: The results show that the fruit and vegetable intake in amounts and choice were highly diverse in the 9 participating countries. Vegetable intake was in general lower than fruit intake, boys consumed less fruit and vegetables than girls did. The highest total intake according to the 24-hour recall was found in Austria and Portugal, the lowest in Spain and Iceland. Conclusion: The fruit and vegetable intake in 11-year-old children was in all countries far from reaching population goals and food-based dietary guidelines on national and international levels. Copyright