Perceptions of Older, Low-Income Women About Increasing Intake of Fruits and Vegetables

Abstract

Focus groups were conducted with 28 older, lowincome women in order to identify factors that affected their fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption. Themes emerging from data analysis include barriers to making dietary changes, specifically to increasing F&V consumption; beliefs about benefits of consuming F&V as compared with other dietary changes; and use of supplements as a substitution for eating F&V. A prominent subtheme concerned the conflict women felt between their desire to consume more F&V and their desire not to waste food. Focus group participants gave concrete suggestions on how to help older, low-income women increase F&V consumption, which included environmental supports.

Key Words:

• Aged
• women
• low-income
• rural
• nutrition
• fruits
• vegetables