Gimme 5 fruit, juice, and vegetables for fun and health: Outcome evaluation

A theory-based multicomponent intervention (Gimme 5) was designed and imple mented to impact fourth-and fifth-grade children's fruit, juice, and vegeta ble (FJV) consumption and related psychosocial variables. Gimme 5 was a ran domized controlled intervention trial with school (n = 16 elementary) as un it of random assignment and analysis. Participants included the cohort of s tudents who were in the third grade in the winter of 1994 and students who joined them in the fourth and fifth grades. The intervention included a cur riculum, newsletters, videotapes, and point-of-purchase education. Evaluati on included 7-day food records and psychosocial measures from students, tel ephone interviews with parents, and observational assessments. Favorable re sults were observed for consumption of FJV combined, FJV consumed at weekda y lunch, eating FJV self-efficacy, social norms, asking behaviors, and know ledge. A theory-based school nutrition education program can help change ch ildren's FJV consumption and impact factors at home that predispose to FJV consumption, but changes were small, and their persistence is unknown.