Abstract
Children's food preferences are major determinants of their consumption. The present study aimed to increase children's preferences for fruits and vegetables (FV) through a school wellness program combined with cafeteria vegetable tasting. A total of 250 fourth and fifth grade students (41% boys; 63% fourth graders) attending low‐income, public elementary schools in southeastern Louisiana participated. The 15‐week intervention included a classroom curriculum that emphasized benefits and consumption of FV and a cafeteria‐based vegetable tasting program (four vegetables). After participating in the intervention, children's knowledge of the benefits of eating FV increased (p < .01). Nutrition knowledge was greater among fifth graders as compared to fourth graders (p < .01) and girls compared to boys (p < .01). Children's preferences for baked potatoes, greens, and green beans increased (p < .01) and fourth graders had higher preferences for apples, oranges, pineapple, strawberries, and tangerines than fifth graders (p = .02). For broccoli, carrots, celery, cabbage, corn, lettuce, and spinach fifth grader's preferences were increased while fourth grader's preferences dropped following the intervention (p = .03). This school wellness program increased children's nutrition knowledge and preferences for a variety of FV. Funding: Baton Rouge Area and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana FoundationsGrant Funding Source: Baton Rouge Area and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundations
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.