The Effects of the Food Dudes Programme on Children’s Intake of Unhealthy Foods at Lunchtime

Aims: Although previous research has shown the Food Dudes programme increases children’s lunchtime fruit and vegetable consumption, research has seldom evaluated whether the intervention can decrease the consumption of high fat and sugar foods. This study is the first, independent evaluation of the Food Dudes programme to explore whether the programme could change children’s lunchtime fruit and vegetable consumption and consumption of high fat and sugar foods following the intervention and explore any relationship between these variables.
Methods: The Food Dudes programme was evaluated in 15 primary schools in the West Midlands UK (n=2,433) at baseline (pre intervention), 3 months and 12 months post intervention. Consumption was measured across five consecutive days in each school using weighed intake (school provided meals) and digital photography (home provided meals).
Results: A significant increase in the consumption of lunchtime fruit and vegetables was found at 3 months for children in the intervention schools, but only for those eating school-supplied lunches. For children consuming school meals, consumption of high fat and sugar foods for children in the intervention and control schools increased over time. No relationship was found between increases in fruit and vegetable consumption and decreased in consumption of high fat and sugar foods following the Food Dudes intervention.
Conclusions: The Food Dudes programme has a limited effect on decreasing consumption of high fat and sugar foods at lunchtime. Targeting unhealthy food consumption in addition to increasing fruit and vegetables may facilitate this. Restricted access to high fat and sugar foods may also reduce intake however this needs to be part of a multi-faceted approach to changing children’s dietary patterns involving the whole school community.