Accompanying the Primary Grocery Shopper Is Positively Related to Requests for Purchase of Fruits & Vegetables in Third & Fourth Grade Students

Consumption of fruits and vegetables is important for growth and development yet intake remains below recommended levels in children in the US. The purpose of this study was to determine whether children accompanying the primary grocery shopper impacts requests for fruit and vegetables and if those children requesting fruits and vegetables like to consume them on a daily basis. A cross-sectional survey design of matched pairs of third- and fourth-grade students and their parents/guardians in an urban Midwest school district was utilized. Third- and fourth-grade participants who asked for fruits and vegetables were more likely to accompany the primary grocery shopper and more prone to liking these key foods as part of their regular diet. Grocery shoppers should consider taking children along when food shopping, emphasizing strategies to find a variety of fruits and vegetables.