Fruit and vegetable intake of mothers of 11-year-old children in nine European countries: The Pro Children Cross-sectional Survey

Alexandra Wolf, Agneta Yngve, Ibrahim Elmadfa, Eric Poortvliet, Bettina Ehrenblad, Carmen Pérez-Rodrigo, Inga Thórsdóttir, Jóhanna Haraldsdóttir, Johannes Brug, Lea Maes, Maria Daniel Vaz de Almeida, Rikke Krølner, Knut-Inge Klepp

29 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare fruit and vegetable intakes of mothers of 11-year-old children across Europe. METHODS: Cross-sectional surveys were carried out in 9 European countries in October/November 2003. Self-administered questionnaires assessing fruit and vegetable consumption were used for data collection. The current paper presents dietary intake data obtained by a precoded 24-hour recall and a food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: The consumption levels of fruit and vegetables (without fruit juice) were in line with World Health Organization recommendations of > or =400 g/day for only 27% of all participating mothers. Based on both instruments, the Pro Children results showed comparatively high average fruit intake levels in Portugal, Denmark and Sweden (211, 203 and 194 g/day) and the lowest intake in Iceland (97 g/day). High vegetable intake levels were found in Portugal and Belgium (169 and 150 g/day), the lowest in Spain (88 g/day). A south-north gradient could not be observed in the Pro Children study. CONCLUSION: Fruit and vegetable intakes are low in mothers of 11-year-olds across Europe. Especially vegetable consumption can be regarded as marginal in most of the studied European countries. A high percentage of mothers indicated to eat fruit and vegetables less than once a day. The results have shown that national and international interventions are necessary to promote fruit and especially vegetable consumption in the European population of mothers.
Original languageEnglish
JournalAnnals of Nutrition and Metabolism
Volume49
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)246-254
Number of pages9
ISSN0250-6807
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005

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