Fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption is associated with reduced risk of chronic disease and decreased diet acidity.⁽ Reference Boeing ^{1 ,} Reference Welch ^{2 )} Research into F&V intake in the UK Armed Forces is limited.

Food diaries (4-day) were completed by (n 57) volunteers pre and during an operational sea deployment on two Royal Navy (RN) Type 45 ships (HMS Dauntless, HMS Daring). F&V intakes were assessed from the food diaries using the National Diet and Nutrition Survey methods that included composite foods.⁽ Reference Lennox ^{3 )} Net endogenous acid production (NEAP) was calculated from protein and potassium intakes using a NEAP equation.⁽ Reference Frassetto ^{4 )} Body mass, height, BMI, skinfolds, handgrip and static lift strength were also measured pre deployment.

Fruit intake including juice (P < 0.01) and total fruit intake excluding juice (P < 0.01), but not vegetable intake, were lower during deployment compared with pre deployment. This difference was due to a decrease in the intake of fresh and canned fruit (P < 0.01) (Table 1). This finding was explored in terms of age. Younger (aged 16–29 years) volunteers had a lower intake of fresh and canned fruit pre and during deployment in comparison with older (30–45 years) volunteers (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the fresh and canned fruit intakes of younger volunteers decreased between pre (68 g.d⁻¹) and during (32.7 g.d⁻¹) deployment (P < 0.01), but were maintained in older volunteers (pre: 118.8 g.d⁻¹; during: 98.2 g.d⁻¹, NS). Estimated NEAP was inversely associated with total fruit and vegetable intakes pre deployment (r = −0.338, P < 0.01), but not during (r = −0.226, P = 0.09). There was no difference in fruit and vegetable consumption between males (n 46) and females (n 11).

Table 1.

Differences in Total Fruit and Vegetables Intakes Between Pre and During Deployment in Royal Navy Volunteers

Fruit intakes decreased during deployment in younger – but not older – volunteers. This would suggest that it was not a lack of provision per se, but perhaps reflected the food choices made by younger volunteers that limited their fruit intakes. Initiatives to promote fruit and vegetable intake in younger personnel – especially whilst deployed – should highlight the important link between diet and physical (military) capability.