Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116688

Gretchen L. Taylor, MPH, RD¹, Susan C. Bishop, BFA², Katherine L. Franken, MPH, RD², Donald B. Bishop, PhD¹, Leslie A. Lytle, PhD RD³, Mary Story, PhD RD³, John H. Himes, PhD³, and Lisa Harnack, DrPH RD³. (1) Center for Health Promotion, Minnesota Dept. of Health, P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882, 651/281-9818, gretchen.taylor@health.state.mn.us, (2) Center for Health Promotion, Minnesota Department of Health, PO Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882, (3) Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, 1300 South Second Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454

Eating fruits and vegetables daily reduces the risk for developing chronic diseases in adulthood. Five daily servings are recommended starting at age two, however, only 16% of American children meet this recommendation. As eating patterns are formed in childhood, environmental and behavior change programs are needed to help preschool children learn to eat more fruits and vegetables. The 5 A Day Preschool Power Plus study aims to develop, implement and assess the effects of an intervention to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables among preschool children in childcare centers. Using an intervention mapping process, a multi-component intervention was designed to increase children's exposure to and consumption of eight targeted fruits and vegetables over a six-month intervention period. Daily, weekly and monthly activities include: 1) Food service changes to provide daily exposure to the targeted fruits and vegetables at lunch and snack; 2) Classroom tasting and preparation of the targeted fruits and vegetables weekly provide children repeated experiences, and six “theme weeks” implemented monthly incorporate fruit and vegetables into all curriculum activities; 3) Parent materials and workshops help parents develop healthy food interactions with their children and encourage fruit and vegetable consumption at home. The development of the intervention using an intervention mapping process will be described. The theoretical model and planning process will be outlined, including use of formative assessment, identification of predictive factors and intervention objectives, and development of intervention strategies and activities. Modification of the intervention based on piloting, and baseline dietary intake data will also be presented.

Learning Objectives: