A Scoping Review of the Operationalization of Fruit and Vegetable Variety

Abstract

Adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables is critical for healthy growth and development. Less is known about fruit and vegetable variety, with variation in operationalization of variety. This review aims to identify currently available evidence operationalizing fruit and vegetable (FV) variety through a scoping review to summarize, compare, and critically evaluate the operationalization of variety. A secondary aim is to examine the implications of measuring FV variety and outcomes including dietary quality/nutrient intake. PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO were searched using the following criteria: (1) human study participants ages 2 years and above; (2) assessment of fruit variety consumption, vegetable variety consumption, or combined fruit and vegetable variety consumption; and (3) peer-reviewed publication available in the English language. Etiologic, intervention, and determinant studies were eligible to be included, and 47 studies met inclusion criteria. Differences in operationalization of variety were found. Findings included associations of FV variety with aspects of nutrient intake, dietary behaviors, lifestyle behaviors, and health outcomes. There were no studies that assessed conventionally grown produce vs. organic produce, and none of the included studies assessed cultivar. Nonstandard classification of fruit and vegetables, differences in fruit and vegetables grown in other countries, and the restriction to studies published in the English language may have excluded studies examining variety published in languages other than English. Operationalization of variety should be reported to allow one to explore comparability across studies, use national or international guidelines for greater comparability, associate variety with nutrient intake, and change variety behaviors via intervention.

How is food variety conceptualised and measured as a diet quality indicator in developed settings? Protocol for a systematic scoping review

“…Another scoping review by Marshall and colleagues10 (2020) included just over 400 articles to reveal how fruit and vegetable variety has been operationalised. Looking only at the variety of fruits and vegetables, the researchers found that nearly all 51 included studies had different definitions of variety which makes it difficult to compare findings 10.…”

“…Another scoping review by Marshall and colleagues10 (2020) included just over 400 articles to reveal how fruit and vegetable variety has been operationalised. Looking only at the variety of fruits and vegetables, the researchers found that nearly all 51 included studies had different definitions of variety which makes it difficult to compare findings 10. Given the growing interest in DD in recent years, an updated and more comprehensive scoping review on the measurement of DD beyond the variety of only fruits and vegetables is warranted.…”

“…This is due to the fact that starchy foods (eg, rice or cassava) are a major source of calories and carbohydrates in less-resourced nations, whereas other nutrient-dense foods like meats, fruits and vegetables are harder to obtain and contribute less to the diet 2. It is consequently more common to see DD measured in the global south by the accessibility of the different foods in one’s community, and thus, DD is a reflection of environmental availability and not quality of a diet 10. To fill a clear knowledge gap on DD as a diet quality indicator, this scoping review will determine how DD has been conceptualised, operationalised and measured as a diet quality indicator.…”

Should We ‘Eat a Rainbow’? An Umbrella Review of the Health Effects of Colorful Bioactive Pigments in Fruits and Vegetables

“…Associating each color with a health benefit is a simplified strategy designed to: (1) help individuals relate to the health properties of FV, (2) promote greater recognition of their importance, and (3) increase the diversity of FV colors consumed across all life stages [15]. Despite these campaigns, assessment of FV variety in both clinical practice and research has been typically based on the number of individual types of FV a person consumes rather than assessing variety of bioactive pigments [18,19]. Observational studies have shown that FV intakes, grouped by their color, are associated with improvement in a range of health outcomes including cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and colorectal cancer [20][21][22][23].…”

Number of Days Required to Estimate Habitual Vegetable Variety: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Using Dietary Records for 7 Consecutive Days

“…According to a scoping review summarizing the operationalization of FV variety [ 11 ], many studies have used a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) or 24-h dietary recall (24-h recall) to measure FV variety. In general, an FFQ is intended to comprehensively assess the amount of nutrients and foods consumed [ 12 ] and is less likely to be developed with the intention of measuring FV variety.…”