5-A-DAY POWER PLUS PROGRAM
OVERVIEW
The 5-a-Day Power Plus program is a multi-component, school-based dietary intervention for 4th and 5th graders. The intervention focuses on increasing students’ fruit and vegetable consumption. In an experimental study in which 20 paired schools were randomly assigned, schools assigned to implement the 5-a-Day Power Plus program were compared with schools that received no intervention. Following the intervention, students from intervention schools were observed consuming significantly more servings of fruits and vegetables during lunchtime than were students from control schools. 24-hour dietary recalls also revealed significantly greater consumption of fruits among treatment students.
DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM
Perry, C. L., Bishop, D. B.,
Target population: 4th and 5th grade students
The 5-a-Day Power Plus program is a multi-component intervention based on social learning theory. The program includes two curricula: “High 5” for 4th graders and “5 for 5” for 5th graders. (This “High 5” curriculum is not related to Binkley et al.’s “High 5” curriculum.) Each curriculum includes sixteen 45-minute classroom lessons to be implemented twice a week for eight weeks. Lessons include skill-building and problem-solving activities and also provide students with opportunities to prepare and taste healthy snacks. As part of the program, students form teams and take part in fruit and vegetable eating competitions at lunch.
During students’ 4th grade year, the program provides information/activity packets for parents to complete with their children. During students’ 5th grade year, students are provided with snack packs that they can take home and use to prepare nutritious snacks for their families.
As part of the program, food service staff attend a two-hour training session on the curriculum and encourage students to eat more fruits and vegetables with their school lunch. Cafeterias provide students with an increased variety of fruits and vegetables and advertise these products with posters and displays.
EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM
Evaluated population: 1612 4th grade
students from 20 elementary schools in the
Approach: The 20 participating schools were matched
into pairs and then, within pairs, randomly assigned to either the treatment
group or the control group. Schools assigned to the control group
received no intervention. Schools assigned to the treatment group
implemented the 5-a-Day Power Plus intervention during students’ 4th
and 5th grade years. Intervention lessons were taught by 4th
and 5th grade teachers, who took part in a one-day training prior to
the commencement of the intervention. Intervention schools received
support from the
Baseline assessments were administered during the winter of students’ 4th grade year. The intervention took place during the spring of students’ 4th grade year and the fall of their 5th grade year. Follow-up data were collected during the winter of students’ 5th grade year. All students completed health behavior questionnaires at baseline and at follow-up. A subset of students (n = 34/school) completed 24-hour food recalls and were observed during school lunch so that their lunchtime fruit and vegetable consumption could be assessed.
Results: Lunchtime observations revealed that students from treatment schools were consuming significantly more servings of fruits and vegetables than were students from control schools. Consumption of fruit accounted for the bulk of this difference. Though treatment boys did not significantly differ from control boys on lunchtime vegetable consumption, treatment girls were observed consuming significantly more vegetables than control girls. Treatment students on the whole were observed consuming significantly more Vitamin A and Vitamin C than control students, reflecting differences among girls only. There was no significant difference between groups on lunchtime consumption of fat, saturated fat, folacin, iron, calcium, or fiber.
On the 24-hour diet recalls, students from treatment schools reported consuming significantly more servings of fruit than students from control schools, but did not report consuming significantly more servings of vegetables. Diet recalls further revealed that treatment students were deriving a significantly lower percentage of their calories from fat and were consuming significantly more calcium. Diet recalls did not reveal significant differences between groups on consumption of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, saturated fat, folacin, iron, or fiber.
On the health behavior questionnaires that students completed, students from intervention schools reported consuming significantly more servings of fruits and vegetables every day than did students from control schools. These students also reported asking for fruits and vegetables more often, perceived a greater need for fruits and vegetables as part of their diet, and perceived their teachers as supporting the consumption of fruits and vegetables to a greater extent. No significant differences emerged between students from control schools and students from treatment schools on perceptions of family, friends, or school cooks as supporting the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION
Curriculum materials available for purchase at:
http://rtips.cancer.gov/rtips/topicPrograms.do?topicId=102266&choice=default
References:
Perry, C. L., Bishop, D. B.,
Program categorized in this guide according to the following:
Evaluated participant ages: 9-11
Evaluated participant grades: 4th-5th
Program age ranges in the guide: Middle Childhood
Program components: School-Based, Parent or Family Component
Measured outcomes: Physical Health
KEYWORDS: Skills-Training, School-based, Parent or Family Component, Education Middle Childhood (6-11), Children, Elementary, Physical Health, Nutrition, White or Caucasian, manual.
Program information last updated on 7/23/07.
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© Child Trends 2003 |
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