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Fruit and vegetable prescriptions for pediatric patients living in Flint, Michigan: a cross-sectional study of food security and dietary patterns at baseline
In this 2019 study, Saxe-Custack et al. describe the characteristics, dietary patterns, food access, and food security reported at baseline by 261 caregiver-child dyads. The number of vegetables, whole grains, and dairy products eaten by the child participants was well below recommendation levels. Moreover, low, or very low food security was reported by 53% of children and 49% of caregivers. However, there were no marked differences in the child consumption of fruits and vegetables between households that reported high versus low food security. As many of these children living in Flint, Michigan are still experiencing an ongoing drinking water crisis, these results bring up serious concerns about the poor dietary patterns and the food insecurity issues that these kids encounter. Previously, there was a successful fruit and vegetable prescription program that offered a $15 spending allowance on fresh produce at numerous markets for each child in Flint. It is clear that further support is required in this region of the United States. [NPID: diet intervention, mental health, diet patterns, food access, food security, Michigan, fruit, vegetables, FV intake]
Year: 2019
