CHILDRENS FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE - SOCIOECONOMIC, ADULT-CHILD, REGIONAL, AND URBAN-RURAL INFLUENCES

National objectives for fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption have been set at five or more servings per day. The National Cancer Institute funded three interventions aimed at increasing F&V consumption among elementary school children. Focus group discussions were held with fourth- and fifth-grade students, their parents, teachers, and food service workers in three regions to determine if environmental, personal, and behavioral influences differed across socioeconomic status (SES), regional, urban-rural, adult-child, and ethnic groups. Discussion guides for focus group sessions were based on the three domains of social cognitive theory's reciprocal determinism: environmental, behavioral, and personal characteristics. Discussions were conducted with groups of students (15), parents (11), teachers (6), and food service workers (6). A systematic content analysis was conducted with THE ETHNOGRAPH,(R) a software system. Differences in the three major components of reciprocal determinism were found across SES, urban-rural, regional, and adult-child factors. Middle to high SES groups reported a much larger variety of F&Vs available in their homes. Children from low and very low SES groups appeared to be responsible for preparing more meals alone. Children, not adults, thought of vegetables as ''grown-up'' foods.