Understanding the Process of Prioritizing Fruit and Vegetable Purchases in Families With Low Incomes: “A Peach May Not Fill You Up as Much as Hamburger”

Abstract

Fruits and vegetables (F&V) are an important component of a healthy diet, but few children are meeting the recommended number of servings. Children from families with limited resources may be least likely to meet the recommendation. This study was designed to understand the strategies and priorities of families with low income related to purchasing F&V. We conducted qualitative, in-depth telephone interviews with low-income parents of elementary school–aged children as part of a random sample of parents participating in a telephone survey who agreed to be contacted for an in-depth interview. Interview transcripts were coded based on predetermined codes that were informed by the research questions. F&V were not considered staples by parents and cost was one of the main concerns. Parents equated F&V with fresh F&V. Interventions encouraging F&V purchasing by families with low income need to find new ways to address the issue of cost, including advocating for F&V in all forms (fresh, frozen, canned, and dried).