Berries contain bioactive compounds that may affect children’s cognitive function positively, while hunger and thirst during lessons before lunch affect academic performance negatively. This pilot study addresses methodological challenges in studying if a berry smoothie, offered to schoolchildren as a mid-morning beverage, affects academic performance.

The objective was to investigate if a cross-over design can be used to study these effects in a school setting.

Therefore, in order to investigate assay sensitivity, 236 Swedish children aged 10–12 years were administered either a berry smoothie (active) or a fruit-based control beverage after their mid-morning break. Both beverages provided 5% of child daily energy intake. In total, 91% of participants completed the study. Academic performance was assessed using the d2 test of attention. Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test in StatXact v 10.3.

The results showed that the children consumed less of the active berry smoothie than the control (154 g vs. 246 g). Both beverages increased attention span and concentration significantly (p = 0.000). However, as there was no significant difference (p = 0.938) in the magnitude of this effect between the active and control beverages, the assay sensitivity of the study design was not proven. The effect of the beverages on academic performance was attributed the supplementation of water and energy.

Despite careful design, the active smoothie was less accepted than the control. This could be explained by un-familiar sensory characteristics and peer influence, stressing the importance of sensory similarity and challenges to perform a study in school settings. The employed cross-over design did not reveal any effects of bioactive compound consumption on academic performance. In future studies, the experimental set up should be modified or replaced by e.g. the parallel study design, in order to provide conclusive results.

Background and aims: In many countries, the consumption of fruit, berries, and vegetables is about half the recommended. Berries contain bioactive compounds that may affect cognitive functions. School children are often hungry and thirsty during the lectures before lunch and this affects performance. Could a berry-smoothie decrease thirst and hunger, and thereby affect school performance? The aim was to investigate if a cross-over design can be used to study the effects of a smoothie on performance in a school setting.

Methods: Methodological challenges included developing an appetizing berry-smoothie and choosing a suitable experimental design that could be adapted to school conditions.

In the pilot study, 236 Swedish children aged 10–12 years participated in a cross-over design and were administered either a berry-smoothie or a fruit-based placebo after the midmorning break. Both beverages provided 5% of the daily energy intake. Performance was assessed using the d2 Test of Attention measuring attention span and concentration. Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test in StatXact v 10.3.

Results: The consumption of both the smoothie and the placebo increased the attention span and concentration significantly.

Conclusion: The children's performance in the d2 Test of Attention was positively affected by beverage consumption. The effect was attributed to the supplementation of water and energy. In this design, the study did not permit any conclusive results regarding the effect of bioactive compounds on performance. In a coming study, a third group, receiving no beverage, should be included aiming to identify the cause of the effect.

Introduction: Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins, minerals and other bioactive substances, which are important for intellectual performance. In a previous study it was shown that approximately two third of the pupils were hungry the last lesson before lunch. The average fruit and vegetable intake at lunch was much lower than the recommendations.

Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate effect on attention and school performance of a vegetable smoothie, rich in berries, fruits and vegetables, served at the mid-morning brake.

Method / Design: In total 250 Swedish children aged 10-12 years participated. The study was designed as a cross-over trial with two study periods of ten schooldays. The children were randomly divided into two groups and were administered either an active smoothie (smoothie 1; group A) or a fruit-based placebo with the same energy content (smoothie 2; group B). Both smoothies were designed to provide 5% of the daily energy. After a three week wash-out period, group A was administered smoothie 2 and group B, smoothie 1. Statistical tests were performed using SPSS package, version 22.0, using Independent-Samples T test. Analysis included processing speed (PTO), concentration performance (CP) and percentages of error (Ep) as assessed by the D2-test

Results: Preliminary analyses indicate that PTO and CP increased during the intervention period, whilst Ep decreased, for both groups. The effect was stronger in the group drinking the active smoothie, than in the group drinking the placebo. The effect might partly be caused by the addition of water and energy

Conclusions: Attention, and thereby also school performance, may be improved by mid-morning consumption of a smoothie containing water, energy and preferably nutrients and other bioactive substances.

Effect on attention of a vegetable smoothie, rich in berries, fruits

and vegetables, served at the school mid-morning brake. Viktoria

Ohlsson. Kristianstad University

Purpose:

The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate effect on

attention of a vegetable smoothie, rich in berries, fruits and

vegetables, served at the mid-morning brake. The smoothie was

designed to provide only 5% of the daily energy. The effect was

assessed by the D2-test of attention.

Participants and setting:

Pupils, aged 10 to 12 years, from twelve school classes in southern

Sweden, were invited to participate in the study. In total 250

children participated. Children suffering from serious food allergies

or food intolerance were excluded from the study.

Data collection:

The study was designed as a cross-over trial with two study

periods of ten schooldays. The children were randomly divided

into two groups and were administered either an active smoothie

(smoothie 1; group A) or a fruit-based placebo with the same

energy content (smoothie 2; group B). After a three week washout

period, group A was administered smoothie 2 and group B,

smoothie 1.

Prior to the study, all children answered a questionnaire about their

consumption of fruit, berries and vegetables, physical activity habit

and and their perceived hunger during the school day. Age, height

and weight was also recorded.

Data analysis:

Analysis of the data focused on concentration performance as

assessed by the D2-test.

Purpose/ObjectivesPurpose was to investigate the nutrient content of Swedish school meals consumed by students in the context of national recommendations regarding food composition and intake.

Methods Composite samples of lunch meals consumed by six students during a five-day period were collected using the double portion method and analyzed for total energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients.

ResultsThe consumed meals contained lower than recommended levels of energy, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, vitamin C, folate, and vitamin E, whereas the amount of sodium consumed was too high.

Applications to Child Nutrition ProfessionalsThe low protein content of students’ diets indicates that more food should be consumed. Students also specifically need to increase their consumption of food rich in omega-3 fatty acids and carbohydrates, while higher intake of vitamin C and vitamin E can be achieved via increased vegetable consumption. Dairy products should be included in the meal or as a supplement in order to ensure sufficient intake of riboflavin, calcium and magnesium. Levels of sodium should be reduced.

Bakgrund: Den nya skollagen som trädde i kraft 2011 kräver att skolelevernas mat ska vara näringsriktig och att den ska vara näringsberäknad. Samtidigt är det nationella målet för offentliga måltider att maten ska innehålla minst 25% ekologisk mat. För att undersöka överensstämmelse mellan näringsinnehåll i skolluncher med de svenska rekommendationerna för skolluncher i tre Landskrona skolor och två stockholmsskolor med högre och lägre andel ekologiska ingredienser.

Metod: Dubbelportionsmetoden användes för att samla in en identisk portion som den planerade under en vecka för varje av de ingående fem skolorna. För varje skola utgjorde en veckas insamlad lunch, ett prov (Composite sample), som analyserades på ett ackrediterat laboratorium för energi och näringsinnehåll. Proven analyserades tre gånger. Resultaten beräknades till ett dagsmedelvärde för varje skola.

Resultat: Energiinnehållet var i stort sett i linje med rekommendationerna, men undantag av skola S4 där innehållet var högre. Innehåll av vitaminer och mineraler var högre i skola S4 som hade högst andel av ekologiska ingredienser. Luncherna från S4 innehöll samtidigt en högre andel grönsaker, större andel ekologisk/kravmärkt mat och lagade samtidigt all mat på plats, men studiens design (litet antal skolor/undersökningsveckor) innebär att det inte är möjligt att statistiskt analysera skillnader. Saltinnehållet i de analyserade luncherna var över rekommendationen i samtliga skolor.

Slutsats: Resultatet visar den att näringsmässiga kvaliteten på skollunchen kan påverkas av andel ekologiska livsmedel, andel vegetabiliska livsmedel, förekomst av fullkorn och graden av halvfabrikatanvändning. Resultaten tyder på att 200 ml mjölk behövs för att uppfylla kraven för riboflavin-, kalcium- och troligen även för magnesium-rekommendationerna.Det krävs fler och större studier för att kunna statistiskt säkerställa eventuella skillnader mellan skolorna och rekommendationerna och mellan de olika skolorna.Resultatet indikerar att det är möjligt att äta en näringsriktig lunch, förutsatt att andelen grönsaker är tillräcklig, att saltinnehållet minskas och att ett glas mjölk, eller en näringsmässigt motsvarande produkt, ingår i måltiden.