TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose It is known that the consumption of fruits and vegetables in children is declining despite wide-spread national and international policy attempts to increase consumption. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the experiences of children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables so as to facilitate better health education targeting.Design/methodology/approach In this qualitative descriptive exploratory study, peer group interviews were undertaken with 18 girls and 18 boys, aged 8-11, from schools in the Manawatu region of New Zealand.Findings The results show that children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables is dependent on balancing risk and reward. Children know and understand the importance of eating fruits and vegetables; however, the perceived risks are typically the prevailing determinant of consumption. These perceived risks often stem from children’s uncertainty about whether the fruits and vegetables will meet the child’s sensory preferences. To mitigate the risks perceived in eating fruits and vegetables, children employ a range of avoidance strategies.Originality/value This study’s results indicate that a model of “associated” risk is a valuable tool to explain children’s fruit and vegetable consumption and preference behaviour and to assist in the development of future health education intervention campaigns.
VL  - 117
IS  - 3
SN  - 0965-4283
DO  - 10.1108/HE-08-2016-0032
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-08-2016-0032
AU  - Dresler Emma
AU  - Whitehead Dean
AU  - Mather Aimee
PY  - 2017
Y1  - 2017/01/01
TI  - The experiences of New Zealand-based children in consuming fruits and vegetables
T2  - Health Education
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 297
EP  - 309
Y2  - 2024/05/10
ER  -