Barriers to Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in LMICs

Flashcards covering the essential vocabulary, dietary recommendations, and international programs related to fruit and vegetable consumption in low- and middle-income countries.

WHO Fruit and Vegetable Recommendation

The guideline suggesting every individual consume at least five servings or $400\,g$ of fruits and vegetables (FVs) per day, excluding starchy vegetables.

Bioactive Compounds

Health-protecting substances found in FVs, including antioxidants, phytoestrogens, dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, and plant sterols.

Nutrition Transition

A shift caused by economic growth and urbanization from traditional diets to Western-style diets that are energy dense, high in fat and sugar, and provide excess calories but lack micronutrients.

Green Leafy Vegetables (GLVs)

Plant foods like lettuce and spinach that are rich sources of iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, folate, carotenoids, and vitamins $A$, $C$, $E$, and $K$.

Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQs)

Semi-quantitative tools commonly used in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to measure and estimate dietary intake, often requiring calibration factors for validity.

EAT-Lancet Recommendations

Dietary targets for planetary health consisting of at least $500\,g$ of FVs per day, including $300\,g$ of vegetables (excluding potatoes) and $200\,g$ of fruits.

Food Balance Sheets (FBS)

FAO data sets that provide information on per-capita food available for consumption rather than actual intake, often leading to overestimation.

INDDEX24

A tool developed by Tufts University, the FAO, and IFPRI to facilitate the assessment of high-quality food consumption and nutrient intake data in LMICs.

GIFT Platform

The FAO/WHO Global Individual Food consumption data Tool, a publicly available database compiled from existing national or sub-national food consumption surveys.

Health Action Process Approach (HAPA)

A psychological framework used in behavioral interventions in Iran to promote FV consumption by enhancing social cognitions and self-regulatory processes.

Homestead Food Production (HFP)

A model used by Helen Keller International (HKI) to establish home gardens and poultry raising units to improve household dietary diversity and security.

Enhanced Homestead Food Production (E-HFP)

An expanded gardening program consisting of home gardens, poultry, and nutrition education (NE) to reduce conditions like anemia and maternal underweight.

Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)

The maximum acceptable levels of pesticide residues on FVs; studies in countries like Kenya and India have shown residues often exceed these limits.

Farm-to-Institution Programs (FIPs)

Interventions that connect regional farms directly to community institutions such as schools and workplaces to improve access to fresh FVs.

Mid-Day Meal Scheme

The largest school feeding program in the world, located in India, serving approximately $90 \times 10^6$ children.

Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF)

A WFP-supported initiative that connects school feeding programs with local smallholder farmers to provide children with safe, diverse, and nutritious food.

Purchase from Africans for Africa (PAA)

An integrated school food and nutrition program executed in countries including Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, and Senegal.

Programa de Apoyo Alimentario (PAL)

A conditional food assistance program in Mexico providing food or cash transfers to marginalized communities, shown to increase FV intake.

HortiFresh

A sustainable production sector program for FVs launched by the government of the Netherlands in Ghana.

Apni Mandi

A market model in Punjab, India, where farmers sell fresh FVs directly to consumers to eliminate middlemen and increase profitability.

Behavior Change Communication (BCC)

Initiatives used as part of multi-component interventions to lower consumption barriers through social marketing and education about dietary importance.