Gimmie 5 (4th and 5th Grade Students)

Guide to Effective Programs
for Children and Youth

GIMME 5 (4^th and 5^th Grade Students)

OVERVIEW

Gimme 5 is a multi-component, school-based dietary intervention for 4^th and 5^th graders. The intervention focuses on increasing students’ fruit, juice, and vegetable consumption. In a random assignment study involving 16 schools, children in schools assigned to implement the Gimme 5 program were compared with children in schools assigned to receive no intervention. Over the course of the intervention, students from intervention schools did not reduce their overall intake of fruit, juice, and vegetables to the extent that students from control schools did. On average, following implementation of the Gimme 5 program, intervention students consumed 0.2 more servings of fruit, juice, and vegetables per day than control students. Increased consumption of vegetables among students from intervention schools accounted for much of this difference.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

Target population: 4^th and 5^th grade students

Gimme 5 is a multi-component intervention designed to increase consumption of fruit, juice, and vegetables among 4^th and 5^th grade students. The intervention includes twelve 45- to 55-minute classroom sessions targeting vegetable consumption for 4^th graders and twelve 45- to 55-minute classroom sessions targeting fruit and juice consumption for 5^th graders. All classroom sessions are highly interactive and give students opportunities to prepare and sample healthy snacks. Students are encouraged to ask for fruits and vegetables at fast-food restaurants, and they practice asking skills in role plays. Students also set consumption goals and receive incentives if they reach these goals.

Parents of children involved in the intervention receive a weekly newsletter and biweekly videotapes, and are provided with assignments to work on with their children. Parents are also encouraged to attend a family night at a local grocery store, where they are provided with suggestions on selecting, storing, and preparing inexpensive dishes featuring fresh fruit, juice, and vegetables.

This Gimme 5 program is not related to the Gimme 5 program developed by Nicklas et al.

EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM

Baranowski, T., Davis, M., Resnicow, K., Baranowski, J., Doyle, C., Lin, L. S., Smith, M., & Wang, D. T. (2000). Gimme 5 Fruit, Juice, and Vegetables for Fun and Health: Outcome Evaluation. Health Education & Behavior, 27(1), 96-111.

Evaluated population: Nearly 2000 children from 16 elementary schools served as the study sample for this investigation. All schools were from a southeastern metropolitan area and its suburbs. Children were predominantly European-American (85%); the remaining 15% were African American.

Approach: The 16 schools were matched into pairs and then randomly assigned, within pairs, to the treatment group or to the control group. Control schools did not implement an intervention. Treatment schools implemented the Gimme 5 program over the course of students’ 4^th and 5^th grade years. Gimme 5 lessons were spaced out over the course of six weeks each year and were taught by classroom teachers, who received one day of training on the program.

Students completed baseline measures during the winter of their 3^rd grade year. Measures included 7-day food records and psychosocial measures. At baseline, no significant differences existed between students at control schools and students at treatment schools. A mid-evaluation follow-up was conducted during the winter of students’ 4^th grade year and a post-evaluation follow-up was conducted during the winter of students’ 5^th grade year.

Results: Over the course of the intervention, students from intervention schools decreased their overall intake of fruits, juices, and vegetables to a lesser extent than did students from control schools. On average, following implementation of the Gimme 5 program, intervention group students consumed 0.2 more servings of fruit, juice, and vegetables per day than control group students. Increased consumption of vegetables among students from intervention schools accounted for much of this difference.

Intervention students increased their knowledge of appropriate fruit, juice, and vegetable consumption to a greater extent than did control students over the course of the intervention. These students also increased the frequency with which they specifically asked for fruits, juices, and vegetables and increased their fruit, juice, and vegetable eating self-efficacy. Their eating preferences and expectations relating to the enjoyment of fruit, juice, and vegetable eating did not change significantly, however.

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

Curriculum materials available for purchase at:

http://rtips.cancer.gov/rtips/rtips_download.do?programid=26&topicid=9

References:

Program categorized in this guide according to the following:

Evaluated participant ages: 9-11

Evaluated participant grades: 4^th-5^th

Program age ranges in the guide: Middle Childhood

Program components: School-Based, Parent or Family Component

Measured outcomes: Physical Health

Program information last updated on 8/31/07