TY - JOUR

T1 - Convenience may increase vegetable intake among young consumers

AU - Hyldelund, Nikoline Bach

AU - Worck, Signe

AU - Olsen, Annemarie

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Current food trends such as healthy eating, plant-based diets and sustainability encourage consumers to eat more vegetables. However, it is a challenge for many, including the younger generations, to meet the dietary recommendations regarding vegetable intake. The purpose of this study was to investigate if vegetable convenience products can increase the daily intake of vegetables among young consumers. A total of 100 participants were randomly allocated to receive either regular or convenience vegetables for a week and filled in questionnaires about vegetable use and consumption before after the intervention. Results showed that participants who received convenience vegetable products significantly increased their daily vegetable consumption by 19% (p = 0.005), but there was no significant difference between the groups during the intervention period. Furthermore, convenience vegetable products were used and perceived differently from regular vegetables. It was found that especially the preparation of the convenient vegetable products had an impact on how the products were perceived. Participants indicated that they were not willing to buy or pay more for convenience in relation to vegetables. In conclusion, convenience vegetable products may increase vegetable intake among young consumers. However, this specific consumer group may find barriers within their values regarding food, consumerism and sustainability, which prevent them from buying convenience food products.

AB - Current food trends such as healthy eating, plant-based diets and sustainability encourage consumers to eat more vegetables. However, it is a challenge for many, including the younger generations, to meet the dietary recommendations regarding vegetable intake. The purpose of this study was to investigate if vegetable convenience products can increase the daily intake of vegetables among young consumers. A total of 100 participants were randomly allocated to receive either regular or convenience vegetables for a week and filled in questionnaires about vegetable use and consumption before after the intervention. Results showed that participants who received convenience vegetable products significantly increased their daily vegetable consumption by 19% (p = 0.005), but there was no significant difference between the groups during the intervention period. Furthermore, convenience vegetable products were used and perceived differently from regular vegetables. It was found that especially the preparation of the convenient vegetable products had an impact on how the products were perceived. Participants indicated that they were not willing to buy or pay more for convenience in relation to vegetables. In conclusion, convenience vegetable products may increase vegetable intake among young consumers. However, this specific consumer group may find barriers within their values regarding food, consumerism and sustainability, which prevent them from buying convenience food products.

KW - Convenience food

KW - Vegetable intake

KW - Vegetables

KW - Willingness to buy

U2 - 10.1016/j.foodqual.2020.103925

DO - 10.1016/j.foodqual.2020.103925

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85082178680

VL - 83

JO - Food Quality and Preference

JF - Food Quality and Preference

SN - 0950-3293

M1 - 103925

ER -