The Effectiveness of Promoting a Vegetable and Fruit Consumption Behavior Program among Preschool Children in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand

Abstract

This study aimed to design a program for promoting fruit and vegetable consumption behaviors among preschool children based on a domestic social support framework, with the goal of increasing their fruit and vegetable intake. This quasi-experimental study involved a set sample of preschool children and their caregivers who were randomly selected based on specific inclusion criteria. The study included 96 pairs of preschool-aged children and their caregivers, divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received the program, while the control group continued with their regular activities. The program development drew inspiration from the caregiving practices in Muang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat. The assessment tools included a preschooler’s eating behavior evaluation and a knowledge test for caregivers regarding children’s fruit and vegetable consumption and the ways to enhance it. Furthermore, experts approved the fruit and vegetable eating behavior assessment among the preschoolers, and a handbook for nurses and primary caregivers affirmed their suitability within the caregiver support framework. The developmental findings suggested that a 10-week program was appropriate and showed a promise in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among the preschoolers. The findings, notably in the experimental group, demonstrate that caregivers should increase their knowledge of, and exhibit behavioral support in, fruit and vegetable consumption among preschoolers, and that this will eventually reflect a positive impact on preschoolers’ dietary habits.