Reasons Behind Low Consumption of Vegetables Amongst Australian Kids

Business Research Proposal

Reasons Behind Low Consumption of Vegetables Amongst Australian Kids

ABSTRACT

THIS PURPOSE OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO UNDERSTAND THE LOW CONSUMPTION OF VEGETABLES AMONG AUSTRALIAN KIDS. THE PROCESS WILL INCLUDE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM SECONDARY DATA, WHICH RATIONALISES THE ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR EATING PATTERNS. SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES ARE ESTABLISHED FOR RESPONDENTS THOUGHTS. IDENTIFYING THE SAMPLE DESIGN WILL HELP IN ACCURATELY MEASURING THE RESULT OF THIS STUDY.

INTRODUCTION

The importance of an adequate intake of vegetables for all Australians cannot be overstated. Fruit and vegetables are protective against a number of chronic diseases and are also important in obesity prevention. However, the majority of Australians, especially kids, currently consume well below the recommended levels of fruit and vegetables. In fact, only 25% of the younger age groups consume the recommended levels of daily serves.

In order to give aid to Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) in conducting research, development, and marketing programs and investigation about the issue of low consumption of vegetables amongst kids, the group will propose strategies that will help in carrying out this project.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to review Australian children’s current consumption of vegetables, looking at potential health risks involved with low vegetable intake and to find effective strategies to increase the consumption of vegetables with children between the ages of 6-16.  After analysing various articles and websites there are two mainstream issues associated with low consumption of vegetables and they are: the correlation found with low consumption of vegetables and children living in low socio-economic areas and health risks associated with low consumption of vegetables.

RESEARCH DESIGN

The group will use Descriptive Research Design to identify the behaviour pattern on why Australian kids are consuming low amount of vegetables.  Quantifiable information can be gathered using survey questionnaires in form of close-ended questions to respondents.

MEASUREMENT AND QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGN

It is important to know what to measure in creating an appropriate questionnaire design. The research is about measuring the kids’ attitudes, motivation, and intention towards vegetables consumption; therefore, using scales such as Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, and Ratio Scales would likely quantify the questions.

See Appendix 1 for Survey Questionnaire

SECONDARY DATA

To begin with, one of the fundamental failures of Australian children’s food system is the low - high waste consumption of vegetables within Australian homes, more specifically those from low socio economic areas within Australia (Department of Health and Ageing. (20012a). It has been established that children who grow up in rural areas, have single parent families and parents with low-income and non-university graduate parents, are more likely to eat less fruit and vegetables because of the price of vegetables and with little information on the importance on the consumption of vegetables on a daily basis and a third of Australian homes throwing away fresh produce a week (Department of Health and Ageing. (20012a). This illustrates a lack of initiative to make children interested in the nutritional content and value of Vegetables. It is important that children, get involved with healthy eating because it provides nutrients and dietary fibres and is crucially important for growth and development. Research suggests that poor diet among children affects their motor skills and cognitive functioning (National Health and Medical Research Council. (2013). Therefore, with high intake of vegetables and healthy living and low-intake of energy dense foods as a part of a healthy diet is critical and important and should take place as early as possible in a child’s life.