Adherence
Public health messaging should prioritize the word 'vegetables' before 'fruits' in the phrase 'vegetables and fruits' to improve nutrient density awareness and address the larger consumption gap for vegetables.
When creating or following health advice, look for messages that say 'vegetables and fruits' rather than 'fruits and vegetables.' This subtle shift highlights that vegetables are generally more nutrient-dense and that Americans are further from meeting vegetable recommendations than fruit recommendations. Prioritize adding vegetables to your diet first.
For these reasons, future health messages promoting both together should intentionally put 'vegetables' first to promote intake and emphasize their importance regarding contribution to health.
Why this rating
The paper is a review/analysis of existing data (nutrient databases, cohort studies, linguistic rules) rather than a primary intervention study testing the efficacy of the new word order.
Source
Fruits and Vegetables Versus Vegetables and Fruits: Rhyme and Reason for Word Order in Health Messages
Lisa Offringa et al. · American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine · 2018
DOI 10.1177/1559827618769605
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