Can Reduced Intake Associated with Downsizing a High Energy Dense Meal Item be Offset by Increased Vegetable Variety in 3⁻5-year-old Children?

Sharon Carstairs,Pam Blundell-Birtill,Samantha Caton,Joanne Cecil,Barbara Rolls,Marion Hetherington

doi:10.3390/nu10121879

Sharon Carstairs, Pam Blundell-Birtill + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10121879

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Abstract

Large portions of energy dense foods promote overconsumption but offering small portions might lead to compensatory intake of other foods. Offering a variety of vegetables could help promote vegetable intake and offset the effect of reducing the portion size (PS) of a high energy dense (HED) food. Therefore, we tested the effect on intake of reducing the PS of a HED unit lunch item while varying the variety of the accompanying low energy dense (LED) vegetables. In a within-subjects design, 43 3–5-year-old pre-schoolers were served a lunch meal in their nursery on 8 occasions. Children were served a standard (100%) or downsized (60%) portion of a HED sandwich with a side of LED vegetables offered as a single (carrot, cherry tomato, cucumber) or variety (all 3 types) item. Reducing the PS of a HED sandwich reduced sandwich (g) (p < 0.001) and total meal intake (kcal) consumption (p = 0.001) without an increased intake of other foods in the meal (LED vegetables (p = 0.169); dessert (p = 0.835)). Offering a variety of vegetables, compared with a single vegetable, increased vegetable intake (g) (p = 0.003) across PS conditions. Downsizing and variety were effective strategies individually for altering pre-schoolers’ intakes of HED and LED meal items, however, using variety to offset HED downsizing was not supported in the present study.

Highlights

The portion size effect (PSE), where more is eaten when large portions are offered compared with small portions, is robust in adult [1,2] and child populations [3,4,5]
A total of 51 children aged 3–5 years from 9 nursery groups in Fife and Tayside were enrolled in the study from September 2016 to May 2018
The results show a significant effect of downsizing using a unit food on reducing intake of the high energy dense (HED) meal item and total meal intake in pre-school children in a nursery setting

Summary

Introduction

The portion size effect (PSE), where more is eaten when large portions are offered compared with small portions, is robust in adult [1,2] and child populations [3,4,5]. The PSE is associated with a sustained increase in energy intake over several days [2,10], and without energy compensation [11]. Given that portion sizes of some energy dense foods have increased over the years [12,13], a lack of compensatory behaviors to increased portion size may promote overeating and excessive energy intakes. Small portions might affect compensatory behaviors to offset any portion downsizing. We tested the effect of reducing the portion size of a HED

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Conclusion