Volume 30, Issue 5: October, 2003

Abstract

Availability, Accessibility, and Preferences for Fruit, 100% Fruit Juice, and Vegetables Influence Children’s Dietary Behavior

Karen Weber Cullen, DrPH, RD, LD, Tom Baranowski, PhD, Emiel Owens, EdD, Tara Marsh, MS, RD, LD, Latroy Rittenberry, MS, RD, LD, Carl de Moor, PhD

The relationships among home fruit (F), 100% fruit juice (J), and vegetable (V) availability and accessibility separately, as reported by 225 fourth- through sixth-grade children and their parents (n = 88), separately, and FJV preferences to child-reported FJV consumption were assessed. For girls, child-reported FJV availability and accessibility accounted for 35% of the variability in FJV consumption. Child-reported availability and parent-reported accessibility were significantly correlated with child FJV consumption in a combined model. For children with high FJV preferences, FJV availability was the only significant predictor, whereas both availability and accessibility were significantly related to consumption for children with low FJV preferences. Interventions targeting child dietary behaviors may need to tailor to the home environment, separately by gender. Extra efforts are necessary by parents to enhance accessibility among children who do not like FJV.