Feasibility and Acceptability of Brighter Bites: A Food Co-Op in Schools to Increase Access, Continuity and Education of Fruits and Vegetables Among Low-Income Populations

J Prim Prev. 2015 Aug;36(4):281-6. doi: 10.1007/s10935-015-0395-2.

Abstract

Intake of fruits and vegetables (F&V) continues to be low in children in the United States. The purpose of this study was to conduct a pilot feasibility evaluation of Brighter Bites, a school-based food co-op to provide access to fresh F&V and nutrition education to low-income children and their families. Brighter Bites is a 16-week school-based food co-op consisting of: (1) Weekly distribution of 50-60 servings of fresh F&V; (2) Weekly bilingual parent handouts and recipe demonstrations; and (3) implementing CATCH, a coordinated school health program in schools. Brighter Bites was pilot tested using a pre-post evaluation design in one charter school in Houston, TX, USA (n = 57 3rd grade parent-child dyads; 94.1 % Hispanic, 91 % low-income). Evaluation, at baseline, midpoint, and post-intervention, included self-reported child and parent surveys on psychosocial factors, dietary habits and mealtime practices. Pearson's Chi square test, Fisher's exact-test or paired t test were used to determine changes pre- to post-intervention (at p < 0.05). Process data using parent surveys, teacher surveys, attendance logs, and produce cost data were used to determine feasibility and acceptability of program. Participants received on average 61 servings of F&V weekly for 16 weeks at the cost of $4.31/family/week. Results showed significant increases in child reported self-efficacy, outcome expectations and attitudes towards consuming F&V (p < 0.05). We found significant increases in child exposure to F&V and child preference of various F&V from baseline to post-intervention (p < 0.05). Parent surveys showed significant improvements in mealtime practices at home: decrease in children eating while watching TV, increase in eating dinner with the family, less fast food, less sugary drinks with meals, more children asking for F&V as snacks. Process data showed 98 % retention rate and high parent acceptability of program components. Brighter Bites is a promising strategy to increase F&V access and education in low-income populations using existing infrastructure of schools and food banks.

MeSH terms

  • Anthropometry
  • Child
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Cookbooks as Topic
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Fruit / economics
  • Fruit / supply & distribution*
  • Health Promotion / methods
  • Health Promotion / organization & administration*
  • Health Promotion / standards
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nutritional Sciences / education*
  • Parents / education*
  • Pediatric Obesity / epidemiology
  • Pediatric Obesity / prevention & control*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Poverty Areas
  • Prevalence
  • Program Evaluation
  • School Health Services / organization & administration*
  • School Health Services / standards
  • Texas / epidemiology
  • United States
  • Vegetables / economics
  • Vegetables / supply & distribution*