Abstract

GRANJA, Liliana et al. Effect of two nutrition education methodologies in adolescents’ intake and knowledge about recommendations of fruit and vegetables . Arq Med [online]. 2006, vol.20, n.1-2, pp.5-12. ISSN 2183-2447.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two nutrition education methodologies (interactive software and nutrition education sessions) in adolescents’ fruit and vegetables (F&V) intake and knowledge about recommendations on the intake of F&V.One hundred and sixty one students (median age=14 years) were evaluated and divided into three groups: the first group received one session with the interactive software, the second received 5 nutrition education sessions and the third was not submitted to any intervention. F&V intake and knowledge about recommendations were evaluated using a self-administered questionnaire, at baseline and two months after intervention. An increase of 0.74 and 0.55 servings on total F&V intake was found in group 1 and 2, respectively. However, these increases were not significantly different from the control group (0.20) and did not significantly change the proportion of students with total F&V intake of 5 or more servings per day. Knowledge about F&V intake recommendations increased significantly in the intervention groups, compared with the control group. The interventions were less successful in increasing F&V intake rather than knowledge about recommendations on the intake of F&V.

Keywords : nutrition education; fruit; vegetables; adolescents.