Considerations for Evaluation of Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Low-Literate Spanish-Speaking Participants in USDA Food and Nutrition Education Programs

Abstract

Rates of obesity and associated chronic disease are high in Hispanics in the United States. Nutrition education interventions promoting dietary change in underserved populations have been shown to have positive effects on behaviors such as fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, thereby reducing the chronic disease burden. Evaluation tools in the Spanish language to assess the dietary behavior changes made in response to the intervention are important in determining the success of such efforts. Currently, there are no Spanish-language tools focused exclusively on FV intake and behaviors that include features to enhance readability for use in low-literacy participants of US Department of Agriculture (USDA) food assistance and education programs. There is a need for such tools to determine the degree to which programs are able to promote behavior change. In designing these tools, researchers should take into account potential issues that may arise when administered. For example, respondents may have difficulty estimating consumption for mixed dishes and vegetables added to food. To address such issues, researchers should employ strategies to assist respondents to understand what constitutes FV and appropriately identify amount consumed. Addition of images to tools or development of accompanying instruction guides may be helpful. Once developed and tested, such scales may be used with Spanish-speaking participants of USDA food assistance and education programs aimed at improving FV behaviors and ultimately, intake.