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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #197525
Title: SQUIRE’S QUEST: INTERVENTION CHANGES OCCURRED AT LUNCH AND SNACK MEALS

Author
item CULLEN, KAREN
item WATSON, KATHLEEN
item BARANOWSKI, THOMAS
item Baranowski, Janice
item ZAKERI, ISSA

Submitted to: Trade Journal Publication
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/8/2005
Publication Date: 10/1/2005
Citation: Cullen, K.W., Watson, K., Baranowski, T., Baranowski, J.H., Zakeri, I. 2005. Squire’s Quest: intervention changes occurred at lunch and snack meals. Appetite. 45(2):148-151.

Interpretive Summary: This study investigated whether changes occurred in fruit, 100% juice, and vegetables (FJV) consumed at meals among fourth grade students who took part in Squire’s Quest!, a 10-session multimedia nutrition behavior change game. Students in 26 elementary schools were randomly assigned to treatment or control groups. Four days of dietary intake were assessed before and after the intervention to determine FJV servings consumed by meal. Overall, students receiving the intervention consumed 1.0 serving FJV more per day compared with control condition students. Intervention school children ate more servings of fruit and 100% fruit juice at snacks, and regular vegetables at lunch compared with children in control condition schools. The Nutrition computer game included specific intervention activities for these meals and snacks, and might be eating occasions for which the children might have had more control. Interventions need to more directly target intake at breakfast and dinner.

Technical Abstract: This study identified fruit, 100% juice, and vegetables (FJV) consumption changes by meal among fourth grade students participating in Squire’s Quest!, a 10-session individually focused psychoeducational multimedia game with many meal/environment specific behavioral change techniques incorporated into the programming. Participants in 26 elementary schools were randomly assigned to treatment or control groups. Four days of dietary intake were assessed before and after the intervention to determine FJV servings consumed by meal. Overall, students receiving the intervention consumed 1.0 serving FJV more per day compared with control condition students. Using mixed model analysis of covariance, significant increases were found for servings of fruit and 100% fruit juice at snacks, and regular vegetables at lunch for intervention school children compared with children in control condition schools. These meals and snacks were targeted by the intervention activities and appear to represent eating occasions for which the children might have had more control. Interventions need to incorporate new procedures to more directly target intake at breakfast and dinner.