Olgacher, Dilara, Wallace, Ciara, Brennan, Sarah F., Lavelle, Fiona, Moore, Sarah E., McKinley, Michelle C., McCole, Patrick, Hunter, Ruth F., Dunne, Laura, Cardwell, Chris R., McCarthy, Danielle and Woodside, Jayne V. (2025) Primary school-based food environment intervention increases diet diversity: Project Daire, a cluster randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 22 (1). ISSN 1479-5868
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Abstract
Background This study explored the effects of Project Daire, a school-based food intervention, on secondary dietary
outcomes Diet Diversity Score (DDS) and Diet Quality Score (DQS), among 6–7 and 10-11-year-old children.
Methods A randomised-controlled, factorial design trial was conducted in 15 Northern Ireland primary schools
across four intervention arms: Nourish, Engage, Nourish and Engage, and Control (Delayed). Nourish modified the
school food environment and increased exposure to local foods, while Engage delivered educational activities on
nutrition, food, and agriculture. Food consumption data were collected at baseline and at up to a 6-month follow-up.
DDS and DQS (at home, at school and/or total) were determined based on the UK Eatwell Guide.
Results A total of 445 children aged 6–7 and 458 aged 10–11 completed the trial. Among the 10-11-year-olds
who received the Nourish intervention, significant increases were observed in the school DDS (adjusted mean
difference = 2.79, 95% CI: 1.44–4.14; p < 0.001) and total DDS (adjusted mean difference = 1.55, 95% CI: 0.65–2.44;
p = 0.001) compared to their counterparts who did not receive it. No such changes were observed in the DDS of
6-7-year-olds in the Nourish group, nor in either age group receiving the Engage intervention. The DQS of both age
groups remained unchanged across all intervention groups.
Conclusions The Nourish intervention was associated with improved dietary diversity among older children
through modifications to the whole-school environment. However, the absence of measurable effects on diet quality
highlights the need for future iterations of Project Daire to incorporate additional strategies. These should include
targeted approaches to improve diet quality, foster active parental engagement, utilize validated dietary assessment
tools, and ensure sustained implementation.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | School-based intervention; Children; Diet diversity; Diet quality; Whole-school approach; Food environment; Food education; |
| Academic Unit: | Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Business |
| Item ID: | 21310 |
| Identification Number: | 10.1186/s12966-025-01842-4 |
| Depositing User: | IR Editor |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Mar 2026 14:58 |
| Journal or Publication Title: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| Publisher: | Biomed Central |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Related URLs: | |
| Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
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