Effects of offering tropical fruit beverages on fluid intake of older hispanic and non-hispanic residents in a long term care facility

• Main Author: Castillo, Raquel
• Format: Others
• Published: FIU Digital Commons 2002
• Subjects: Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition
• Online Access: http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/2076; http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3330&context=etd

The objective of this thesis was to determine how the availability of tropical fruit beverages, familiar to Hispanics, would affect fluid intake of Hispanic and non-Hispanic residents of a 120-bed nursing home. Beverage acceptance and intake were measured for three days with the following beverage offerings (including coffee): four fruit beverages usually served in the facility or two of the usual fruit beverages combined with two tropical fruit beverages. The presence of the tropical fruit beverages on the hydration cart significantly increased acceptance and intake in women but not men, regardless of ethnicity. Hispanic females chose and drank (ps < .01) more tropical fruit beverages than did their non-Hispanic counterparts. During the study residents consumed greater than six ounces of beverage 80% of the time and greater than ten ounces 57% of the time. Between-meal fluid intake in this population can be stimulated by offering generous servings (10-12 oz) of a variety of palatable beverages, including ethnic favorites.