The Pro Children Study: Conceptualization, Baseline Results and Intervention Development of a European Effort to Promote Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Schoolchildren

There is international consensus that a high fruit and vegetable intake is good for health; increasing fruit and vegetable consumption is one of the main dietary recommendations in the World Health Organization’s global strategy on diet, physical activity and health [1] and fruit and vegetable promo... Full description

There is international consensus that a high fruit and vegetable intake is good for health; increasing fruit and vegetable consumption is one of the main dietary recommendations in the World Health Organization’s global strategy on diet, physical activity and health [1] and fruit and vegetable promotion is likewise part of health promotion goals in many countries [2] . This is not surprising because fruits and vegetables are a primary source of diverse micronutrients and minerals, nonnutrient antioxidants and dietary fi bers. Furthermore, a large body of evidence shows that an ample amount of fruit and vegetable in the daily diet contributes to lower risks for cardiovascular disease [3] , cancer [4] (but see Hung et al. [5] for recent evidence that the cancer prevention effects of fruit and vegetable may be more doubtful), and obesity [6] . Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel