Produce Consumption Patterns Among Pregnant Women In Delaware: Health, Income, And Policy Implications

Abstract

Produce plays an integral role in a wellbalanced diet and research has continually demonstrated the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables to reduce one’s risk of cancers, heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and other health problems. For pregnant women, diet is especially important. Certain vitamins and minerals, such as folic acid, are vital for a healthy pregnancy, and have been found to reduce birth defects in infants as well as the risk of developing other, more longterm health problems in children. Most of these nutrients are found in fruits and vegetables. The consumption of fruits and vegetables in the United States is notoriously low, and very few Americans eat the World Health Organization’s recommended five daily servings. A lowquality diet is thought to be the result of a variety of factors, but the social determinants of health such as income may play a meaningful role. This paper examines the importance of produce consumption during pregnancy and the fruit and vegetable consumption patterns of pregnant women in the state of Delaware, as indicated by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Furthermore, this paper will assess whether or not income is related to the produce consumption patterns of pregnant women, and assess the research concerning motivations behind personal diet choices.