Zespri explores the impact of fruit and vegetable consumption
on children's wellbeing in world-first childhood dietary
intervention study.
MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New
Zealand , June 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zespri, the
world's leading marketer of kiwifruit, is investing in building
knowledge and healthy eating habits among children through its
latest feasibility study named the Feel Good Study, exploring the
relationship between fruits and vegetables (FV) and children's
wellbeing.
The nutritional benefits of FV to physical health are widely
known, but according to a study in the PLOS Global Public Health
Journal, almost one in two children globally are not consuming
enough FVs. In line with Zespri's mission to promote good nutrition
and healthy eating habits, the Feel Good Study was conducted by
researchers at University of Auckland,
New Zealand, who lead research, education, and clinics in
nutrition science, nutrition, and dietetics.
The study primarily aimed to determine the feasibility and
acceptability of a 10-week FV dietary intervention in primary
school and the measurement of mental and cognitive health outcomes.
The study investigated the effects of increased consumption of FV
on children's wellbeing among those aged between eight and 10 years
old.
"As stewards of the next generation's wellbeing, we understand
the profound impact that early nutrition has on a child's lifelong
health. It is only through cultivating positive eating habits in a
sustainable manner that we can truly make a difference and thrive
as a healthier society with a brighter future," said Ng Kok Hwee, General Manager of Global
Marketing, Zespri.
The feasibility study explored strategies to increase exposure
to unfamiliar FVs to promote acceptance in children. Increased FV
acceptance from childhood paves the way for healthy dietary habits
that extend to adulthood, in turn leading to improved overall
wellbeing.
"We've always been invested in learning more about the
nutritional benefits of kiwifruit to human health, but with this
study, we sought to dig deeper into the nutritional outcomes of
fruits and vegetables as part of a whole diet approach. We
investigated areas that have not been studied as much – in
particular, wellbeing and cognitive development – to show how
choosing fruits and vegetables is not just a nutritional or dietary
decision, it is an investment into the well-being of the child,"
said Dr Paul Blatchford, Innovation
Manager – Core Products, Zespri. "This study represents Zespri's
first step in understanding the tangible benefits to wellbeing.
Given the varying nutritional challenges in each market, we plan to
go beyond taking this first step and extend this research to future
studies in our key markets."
The Findings
The Feel Good Study demonstrated the
potential of increasing FV acceptance1, overall diet
quality, as well as vegetable intake2 among participants
through raising awareness of the diverse FV options available
locally.
The intervention also prompted positive changes in parental
behaviour, with increased awareness of healthy eating leading to a
conscious selection of more low-fat, low-sugar options for their
children3. The study also demonstrated a positive
improvement to emotional wellbeing scores in the intervention group
compared to the control group4.
"The Feel Good Study intervention had a robust design,
incorporating both home- and school-based strategies to promote
healthier habits among children. With a focus on experiential
learning, the school sessions engaged students in interactive
sensory experiences, complemented by the delivery of fruit boxes to
encourage additional fruit consumption during the school day.
Meanwhile, the home-based component provided families with weekly
vegetable boxes, complete with recipes and tips, aiming to foster
sustained engagement and long-term benefits," said Professor
Clare Wall, Head of Discipline – Nutrition, Faculty of Medical and
Health Sciences, University of Auckland.
Schools and homes are core environments for children. In
schools, educational strategies that focus on incorporating
elements of fun and enjoyment helped in building positive
associations and promoting FV consumption in children. At home,
empowering parents with knowledge and practical tips on diverse FV
preparation methods fosters a wider range of options for their
children, reducing food neophobia. Parents are key influencers in
shaping children's food preferences and by incorporating FVs into
their diets, they set a healthy example for their children to model
after.
Designed as a feasibility study, the Feel Good Study was able to
achieve good recruitment and retention rates and showed promising
preliminary evidence including positive changes to diet quality,
vegetable intake and behavioural outcomes. Zespri's Feel Good Study
sets the foundation for larger scaled clinical trials that are set
to take place in China and other
key markets in the next few years as the company builds greater
knowledge to encourage sustainable change and cultivate positive
eating habits in children in the long run.
Globally, Zespri has rolled out various nutrition programmes
designed to lift the consumption of fresh kiwifruit around the
world and created 5 billion healthy eating occasions in the 2022/23
season – well on the way to its goal of lifting this to 6 billion
by 2025. It has also supported 35 healthy lifestyle programmes in
over 12 countries since 2020.
Appendix 1: Study Methodology
70 children aged between
8 and 10 years old, with 65 parents/caregivers who provided
baseline demographic information for their child, participated in
the Feel Good Study in New
Zealand. The study followed a 10-week wait-listed
controlled, cluster-randomised design, encompassing both school and
home settings to investigate behaviour changes in children.
The intervention involved a multifaceted approach, utilising a
streamlined fruit box delivery and educational package, to explore
the factors influencing children's dietary behaviours and fostering
shifts in their attitudes towards the intake of FVs. Assessment
activities took place in both school and home environments, with
the overarching objective of promoting an increase in the
consumption of FVs.
Full details of the study methodology, results, and
recommendations for future iterations can be found in the research
study here.
1 Anecdotally, respondents to the study said they
were exposed to more varieties and were more adventurous
with FV.
2 The study saw an 8% increase in total diet quality and
19% increase in vegetable intake in participants.
3 The study saw a 32% increase in parents/caregivers
choosing low fat and 38% increase in parents/caregivers choosing
low sugar options after the intervention.
4 The study found a divergence of change to the
emotional problems component of the strengths and difficulties
questionnaire with a slight improvement to scores in the
intervention group, and decline in the control group.
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SOURCE Zespri