Evaluation of “Together, We Inspire Smart Eating” (WISE) Nutrition Intervention for Young Children: Assessment of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption with Parent Reports and Measurements of Skin Carotenoids as Biomarkers

ABSTRACT

Resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) and parent report were used to assess dietary intake of fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption among young children experiencing a nutrition intervention. The nutrition intervention was “Together, We Inspire Smart Eating” (WISE). The study followed a convenience sample of low-income children in preschool (N = 175) and early elementary (N = 199) classrooms over an academic school year. Data were collected in a Southern, rural U.S state. Results of pre- and post-assessments indicated statistically improved consumption of FV at follow-up compared to baseline. Results were consistent using both assessment methods supporting the use of either assessment method.

KEYWORDS:

• Obesity
• nutrition
• preschool
• poverty
• skin carotenoids as a biomarker

Acknowledgments

The authors thank James Selig, PhD, for his review and confirmation of all analyses in this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (Competitive Grant no. 2011-68001-30014) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and by the Translational Research Institute (UL1TR000039 and KL2TR000063) through the NIH National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Additional funding was received from NIH (K01 DK110141). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies.