Fruit and vegetable shopping behavior and intake among low-income minority households with elementary-aged children

Authors: METOYER, BRITTNI - University Of Texas Health Science Center; CHUANG, RU - University Of Texas Health Science Center; LEE, MIN - University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; MARKHAM, CHRISTINE - University Of Texas Health Science Center; BROWN, ERIC - University Of Texas Health Science Center; ALMOHAMAD, MAHA - University Of Texas Health Science Center; DAVE, JAYNA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); SHARMA, SHREELA - University Of Texas Health Science Center

Submitted to: Children
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/30/2022
Publication Date: 12/30/2022
Citation: Metoyer, B.N., Chuang, R.J., Lee, M.J., Markham, C., Brown, E., Almohamad, M., Dave, J.M., Sharma, S.V. 2022. Fruit and vegetable shopping behavior and intake among low-income minority households with elementary-aged children. Children. 10(1). Article 82. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10010082.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/children10010082

Interpretive Summary: Americans' diet, particularly those of low-income households, fall short of recommendations for fruits and vegetables (FV). This study aimed to assess the association between FV shopping behavior and child FV intake. Data from self-reported surveys from adult-child groups of Hispanic/Latino and African American participants enrolled in the Brighter Bites co-op program was analyzed using linear regression models. Results indicated that among both, Hispanic/Latino and African American participants, child FV intake was positively associated with shopping for FV at natural/organic supermarkets, discount superstores, and convenience stores. Additionally, specifically among Hispanics, child FV intake was also positively associated with shopping for FV at large chain grocery stores, warehouse club stores, small local stores/corner stores, ethnic markets, farmers' markets/co-op/school farm stands, and gardens. The relationship between location and frequency of shopping for FV and child FV intake varied between races. More research is needed to better understand the influence of socio-cultural and physical environmental factors. Nutrition education programs are vital to encouraging families to make healthier food choices and purchases to improve child FV consumption.

Technical Abstract: Low-income children and families do not meet the recommendations for fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. This study aimed to assess the association between FV shopping behavior and child FV intake through a cross-sectional study design analyzing self-reported surveys (n=6074) from adult-child dyads of Hispanic/Latino and African American participants enrolled in the Brighter Bites co-op program. Through quantitative mixed effects linear regression models, accounting for school-level clustering and adjusting for covariates, child FV intake was positively associated with shopping for FV at large chain grocery stores (p<0.001), natural/organic supermarkets (p<0.001), warehouse club stores (p=0.002), discount superstores (p<0.001), small local stores/corner stores (p=0.038), convenience stores (p=0.022), ethnic markets (p=0.002), farmers' markets/co-op/school farm stands (p<0.001), and gardens (p=0.009) among Hispanic/Latinos participants. Among African American participants, there was significant positive association between child FV intake and shopping for FV at natural/organic supermarkets (p<0.001), discount superstores (p=0.005), and convenience stores (p=0.031). The relationship between location and frequency of shopping for FV and child FV intake varied between races. Further research is needed to better understand the influence of cultural and physical environmental factors. Nutrition education programs are vital to encouraging families to make healthier food choices and purchases to improve child FV consumption.