Impacto de uma intervenção para aumento do consumo de hortofrutícolas em idade pré-escolar

Abstract

Dietary habits acquired and developed during childhood and adolescence are extremely important. A wholesome, varied and balanced nutrition, guided by the food balance wheel from an early age, contributes to decreasing the risk of several immediate health issues, such as anaemia, obesity, eating disorders and dental caries, and it may prevent long-term health problems, such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, cancer and osteoporosis. Moreover, dietary habits acquired at this stage are likely to remain throughout adulthood. Fruits and vegetables have a pivotal role on healthy diets and research has systematically shown that their consumption is lower than recommended. Thus, the purpose of this study was investigating the impact of an intervention composed by six educational and recreational activities increasing the fruit and vegetable consumption in pre-school children. 43 children from the parish centre of Centro Paroquial Social S. Jorge took part in this study, with 23 female children and 20 male children aged 3 to 6 years old. Their parents were asked to fill a questionnaire, which was used for this study, focusing, among other issues, on the fruit and vegetables consumption by children at home. Fruit and vegetable waste from three meals provided at the centre was also assessed. Both assessments – the questionnaire applied to the parents and the vegetables’ waste assessment – were made prior and after the intervention. The study on the impact of this intervention to increase the fruit and vegetable consumption in pre-school children revealed that the children included in this study presented a high frequency of fruit and vegetable intake in the early stage, and that the intervention was efficient, particularly regarding vegetables included in meals, which was the least consumed component. Interestingly, the intervention had also an effect in the parents' fruit and vegetable intake.

Date of Award	20 Jul 2015
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Elisabete Pinto (Supervisor)