Vegetable Preferences Research Articles

Maternal correlates of vegetable preference and consumption in preschool-aged children

Maternal correlates of vegetable preference and consumption in preschool-aged children

Current estimates and vegetation preferences of an endangered population of the vulnerable greater glider at Seven Mile Beach National Park

AbstractThis study aimed to provide accurate and current distribution and density estimates of the greater glider population size at Seven Mile Beach National Park, New South Wales Australia from extensive spotlight surveys. Distribution mapping of greater gliders and ArcGIS modelling allowed effective visual representation of the population’s distribution and provided preliminary evidence of a vegetation preference for the species within the study area. Spotlight surveys revealed the population ranged from 0 to 1.13 (±0.34) greater gliders per hectare; with an average of 0.41 greater gliders per hectare across Seven Mile National Park. An estimated total of 335 greater gliders could reside in the area. Vegetation surveys confirmed there was a higher encounter rate of greater gliders within Eucalyptus pilularis, blackbutt dominated forest. As expected, the number of suitable hollows was also an important factor affecting greater glider distribution. These findings have site‐specific implications for a number of suitable management options (e.g. nest boxes, road crossing structures and glider poles).

178 Use of silvopastures and woodlands to expand the grazing opportunity for small ruminants

Abstract Pasture-based small-ruminant farming is a popular enterprise in the Southeast, especially for small and limited-resource producers. Although woodlands occupy a majority of the land cover in the South and can be a promising resource for raising small ruminants, not much attention has been given on using such resources. A series of studies were conducted at the facilities of Tuskegee University with the overall objective of exploring the potential of using silvopastures and woodlands for raising small ruminants. Grazing studies were conducted from 2015 to 2019 using meat goats and hair sheep in silvopastures and woodland plots. Silvopastures were developed by thinning down the existing woodlands and planting suitable cool- and warm-season forages. Grazing facilities were installed in the study plots and animals were rotationally stocked each year during both cool- and warm-season grazing periods. In 2017, non-pine plants in woodlands were cut to three different heights (ground level and 0.9 m and 1.5 m from the ground level) or left uncut (control) to see the effects on understory vegetation biomass production and utilization by small ruminants. Data on vegetation biomass and quality, canopy height, animal performance and behavior, browsing height, and vegetation preference were collected and analyzed. Small ruminants were found to utilize all planted forages (silvopastures) well and most of the understory plants in woodlands. Vegetation biomass in woodlands increased in areas where non-pine plants were cut versus the control (36–106%; P < 0.0001). Mature animals maintained a desirable body condition score (≥2.6) and FAMACHA score (≤2.6) in woodlands. However, young, growing animals showed a poor live weight gain, especially during some portion of the study. Animals performed well when they were stocked in silvopastures. Both species showed a similar preference for most plant species available in woodlands. Results show a tremendous potential of using silvopastures and woodlands for expanding the grazing opportunity for small ruminants. However, the provision of some supplements would be necessary while stocking young animals in woodlands.

17 Comparing Natural Vegetation and Food Plot Preference against Supplemental Protein Pellets in Captive White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and Exotic Species

Abstract Supplemental feed is the most expensive input in the captive wildlife industries. This is due to operations utilizing high-energy pellets as supplemental feed. Low fence operations often utilize food plots with high quality vegetation to minimize cost and increase forage availability for wildlife. The objective of this study was to determine forage preference of animals in captivity, and determine the most cost effective method of supplemental feeding. Seven food plots covering 25 acres contained one of three treatments. The treatments were: a commercial blend of soybeans; a commercial blend of soybeans, sunflowers, and milo; native/unplanted. Three utilization cages were set up to inhibit wildlife access to samples within each food plot to act as a control. Height of vegetative samples, inside and outside of the utilization cages, was collected on days 30, 60, and 90 after planting. The 30-d sample showed a preference of native/unplanted vegetation over the commercial treatments, P < 0.05. However, samples taken on days 60 and 90 showed the preference shifted toward the commercial blends, P < 0.05. This browsing preference indicates stage of maturity had an impact on plant selection. Regardless of sample date, the commercial blends showed a difference of P < 0.01, selecting the soybean blend more frequently. With an increased selection of the forages in the food plots, there was a decrease in cost of purchasing feed pellets with a total savings of approximately $5,500.00 from April 5-July 5, 2019. These results suggest that white-tailed deer and exotic species in captivity prefer forages compared to pelleted feed. Supplemental feeding programs that include food plots could allow for natural feeding tendencies, while being more cost effective for operations in the captive wildlife industries.

16 Comparing Natural Vegetation and Food Plot Preference against Supplemental Protein Pellets in Captive White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and Exotic Species

Abstract Supplemental feed is the most expensive input in the captive wildlife industries. This is due to operations utilizing high-energy pellets as supplemental feed. Low fence operations often utilize food plots with high quality vegetation to minimize cost and increase forage availability for wildlife. The objective of this study was to determine forage preference of animals in captivity, and determine the most cost effective method of supplemental feeding. Seven food plots covering 25 acres contained one of three treatments. The treatments were: a commercial blend of soybeans; a commercial blend of soybeans, sunflowers, and milo; native/unplanted. Three utilization cages were set up to inhibit wildlife access to samples within each food plot to act as a control. Height of vegetative samples, inside and outside of the utilization cages, was collected on days 30, 60, and 90 after planting. The 30-day sample showed a preference of native/unplanted vegetation over the commercial treatments, P < 0.05. However, samples taken on days 60 and 90 showed the preference shifted toward the commercial blends, P < 0.05. This browsing preference indicates stage of maturity had an impact on plant selection. Regardless of sample date, the commercial blends showed a difference of P < 0.01, selecting the soybean blend more frequently. With an increased selection of the forages in the food plots, there was a decrease in cost of purchasing feed pellets with a total savings of approximately $5,500.00 from April 5-July 5, 2019. These results suggest that white-tailed deer and exotic species in captivity prefer forages compared to pelleted feed. Supplemental feeding programs that include food plots could allow for natural feeding tendencies, while being more cost effective for operations in the captive wildlife industries.

Implementation and outcome evaluation of a team nutrition intervention: increasing knowledge, attitudes, and preferences.

Low-income, rural children are at a greater risk for poor dietary intake. Schools offer a venue to deliver appropriate interventions. Our aim was to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of Healthy Schools, Healthy Students (HSHS). We conducted a mixed-methods evaluation using a cluster-randomized trial design with 20 schools in a rural, Midwestern state. HSHS included education sessions, cafeteria coaching and taste testing. We interviewed implementers (n = 13) and nutrition educators (n = 8), conducted six focus groups with cafeteria coaches, and surveyed fourth graders (n = 1057) about their nutrition knowledge, attitudes toward and preferences for fruits and vegetables (F&V), F&V consumption and MyPlate awareness. We used multi-level linear models to estimate the intervention effect and qualitative data were coded. There were very few challenges to implementation. HSHS participation was positively associated with knowledge, attitudes toward F&V, preferences for vegetables from the taste tests, MyPlate awareness and vegetable consumption. HSHS was viewed as beneficial and easy to deliver, suggesting this type of intervention could be widely implemented. Improving knowledge and attitudes through nutrition education and preferences through taste testing have the potential to improve dietary intake among rural students. Low-cost nutrition interventions can be successfully implemented in rural elementary schools with positive outcomes.

Normalising the “ugly” to reduce food waste: Exploring the socialisations that form appearance preferences for fresh fruits and vegetables

AbstractFruits and vegetables that fail to conform to an aesthetic standard are labelled suboptimal and are often devalued and ultimately discarded. Although consumers perceive suboptimal produce negatively, little is known about how these perceptions are formed and indeed the socialisation process behind them. Using 11 focus group discussions with New Zealand children aged 5–11 years (N = 97), this study explores these socialisations. The results show that family practises around growing and repurposing suboptimal produce, learning about suboptimal produce waste, and acting on that knowledge when making produce choices, facilitates the acceptance of suboptimal produce. Alternatively, observations of parents' produce choice behaviours, and parents' instructions or norms for choosing, preparing, and eating produce socialise the rejection of suboptimal produce. The implications of the study show how environmental sustainability with respect to the food waste problem could be effectively addressed if public policy moves towards strategies that “normalise” suboptimal produce. The interventions recommended show how public campaigns would be more effective by targeting children, who are not only concerned about environmental sustainability, but also through their growing agency and positive pester‐power may influence households to reconsider how food is valued.

Fruit and Vegetable Lesson Plan Pilot Intervention for Grade 5 Students from Southwestern Ontario.

The purpose was to create and assess the impact of food literacy curriculum alongside a centrally procured school snack program among grade five students in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Grade five students (N = 287) from five intervention and three controls schools participated in an 8-week food delivery program. In addition to the food delivery program, intervention schools received a resource kit and access to 42 multidisciplinary food literacy lesson plans using the produce delivered as part of the food delivery program. Participants completed matched pre- and post-test online surveys to assess fruit and vegetable intake, knowledge, preferences, and attitudes. Descriptive analyses and changes in scores between the intervention and control schools were assessed using one-way ANOVAs, paired samples t-tests, and McNemar’s tests. In total, there were 220 participants that completed both the pre- and post-test surveys. There was a significant improvement in fruit and vegetable intake (p = 0.038), yet no differences in knowledge of the recommended number of food group servings, knowledge of food groups, or fruit and vegetable preferences or attitudes were observed. Integrating nutrition lesson plans within core curricula classes (e.g., math, science, and literacy) can lead to modest increases in fruit and vegetable intake.

Trees, ground vegetation, sidewalks, cycleways: users’ preferences and economic values for different elements of an urban street—a case study in Taipei

Streets are an essential element of cities, and their design has a profound impact on their functionality to the movement of people and their well-being. This paper investigates preferences for and economic values of several street design characteristics, encompassing greenspaces (ground vegetation, trees, flowers), and walking and cycling infrastructure. A discrete choice experiment on a single case study street in Taipei, Taiwan, has revealed positive preferences for ground vegetation (and a willingness to pay—WTP—between $2.8 and $4 per year for a 1% increase in coverage), separated cycling infrastructure (with a WTP between $60 and $100 for cycleways separated from traffic), pedestrian access to road islands (WTP of $55), and the (reduced) amount of space dedicated to motor vehicles (WTP of $29 to avoid any increase). Flowers were also deemed important, but a mixed picture was obtained with respect to preference for street trees. The analysis is exploratory, on a relatively small sample of street users, but contributes to the literature on the importance of urban vegetation and walking and cycling infrastructure when designing streets and be used to draw lessons for other similarly dense urban areas in the country and wider region.

Does vegetation density and perceptions predict green stormwater infrastructure preference?

Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) is being implemented in cities around the globe. Although we know that GSI improves urban ecosystems in a variety of ways, we know little about the extent to which the characteristics of GSI impact human perception and preference. This gap in knowledge necessitates a greater understanding of the relationship between GSI perceptions and preference. Without this knowledge, designers and planners risk creating landscapes that people dislike, and from which they reap few health benefits.To address this gap, we deployed four sets of similar questionnaires globally in Amazon Turk. Each had 54 urban street photographs from US cities with varying levels of tree and bioretention planting density that were photomanipulated from six original images. In three questionnaires, participants rated how natural, safe, or messy they perceived the landscapes to be on a five-point Likert scale. The other questionnaire asked participants to rate their preference for each image. The researchers then examined the relationships between vegetation density, perceptions, and preference (n = 427).The results demonstrate that vegetation density levels significantly influenced people’s preference, perceived safety, and perceived naturalness. Furthermore, perceived safety and naturalness strongly correlated with preference while the three landscape characteristics predicted preference. These findings can be used to improve the design of urban GSI and help people reap the benefits of nature. Future studies should investigate the effects of seasons, the influences of cues of care, and international applications.

Effects of a Montessori-based Nutrition Education Program with Fruit and Vegetable Taste Testing on Intake, Preferences, and Nutrition Knowledge of Preschool and Kindergarten Children

Learn how a theory-driven Montessori-based intervention can be used to increase student nutrition knowledge, fruit and vegetable intake and preferences

Preadolescents\u2019 healthy eating behavior: peeping through the social norms approach

BackgroundThe rising childhood obesity rate is a major public health challenge. The objective of this study is to examine key underlying mechanisms for peer-related social influence on preadolescents’ healthy eating behavior by including factors closely linked with the quality of preadolescents’ relationship with peers.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in a convenience sample of 278 Lithuanian preadolescents, recruited from a public school. A questionnaire containing sociodemographic questions, questions about food intake, peer-related social norms of healthy eating, social self-efficacy, vegetable preference, need for peer approval and feeling of belonging were applied. Data was analyzed using structural equation modeling.ResultsThe results of the SEM showed that social self-efficacy predicts feeling of belonging to the peer group and need for peer approval. Feeling of belonging and need for peer approval predict actual intake of vegetables via injunctive norms of healthy eating. However, neither feeling of belonging nor need for peer approval predicted descriptive norms of healthy eating. Contrary to our expectations, descriptive norms were found to be unrelated with actual intake of vegetables, though vegetable preference predicted actual intake of vegetables. Vegetable preference was not predicted by injunctive or descriptive peers’ social norms of healthy eating.ConclusionsThe findings of this study offer insight for informing parents, teachers and for social norms marketing interventions by stressing the importance of social relations when the aim is to encourage healthy eating among preadolescents.

Positive association between bitter taste threshold and preference of vegetables among adolescents.

Better understanding of aspects of taste in adolescents is needed since it has bearings on food policies, food industry and pharmaceutical design. Furthermore, taste preferences likely play a role in overeating and anorexia. We aimed to validate a questionnaire about taste preferences and dietary habits along with measurements of sense of smell and taste. We included adolescents from nearby schools in Aarhus, Denmark, from 2017 to 2019. Scoring preferences and habits on a Likert scale, they completed a food item questionnaire. Their chemosensation was tested by the Sniffin' Sticks and Taste Drop Test. We included 100 adolescents: 53 males, 47 females; average age: 15.9years (12-17years). Retest of the questionnaire showed good reliability (Cohen's kappa: 0.5953). Snacks scored the highest average liking (4.48), whereas starches had the highest frequency of consumption (3.64). Bitter taste threshold was positively associated with liking and familiarity with vegetables (P=.032; P=.012), respectively. Healthy self-reported dietary habits were associated with a higher self-reported consumption of vegetables and a decreased consumption of snacks. Adolescents preferred unhealthy food items, but they also reported more frequent consumption of healthy than unhealthy food items. A higher threshold for the bitter taste, that is, being less sensitive to bitter taste, was associated with higher liking and familiarity of vegetables.

Effects of a nutrition education intervention on fruit and vegetable consumption-related dietary behavioural factors among elementary school children

Objective: To increase nutrition knowledge, fruit and vegetable preference, eating and cooking self-efficacy among 3rd- to 5th-grade students after a 6-week school-based nutrition education intervention. Design: Quasi-experimental pre–post design. Setting: Title I elementary schools, South Plains, West Texas. Method: A nutrition education curriculum informed by social cognitive theory was developed and implemented in four Title I elementary schools. A total of 115 children from 3rd to 5th grade (age range: 8–11 years) participated and completed both baseline and post-intervention surveys. The intervention included class-based nutrition education for 25 minutes, and a cooking and tasting session for 20 minutes each week. Nutrition handouts on fruit and vegetable were sent to parents. Face-to-face survey questionnaires were administered on nutrition knowledge, fruit and vegetable preference, fruit and vegetable eating and cooking self-efficacy during pre- and post-surveys. Changes in mean score of nutrition knowledge, fruit and vegetable preference, fruit and vegetable eating and cooking self-efficacy were analysed using paired t-tests. Results: Participants showed significant improvements in nutrition knowledge, fruit and vegetable preference, eating and cooking self-efficacy after the intervention. Conclusion: Study results suggest that a brief 6-week multi-component and school-based nutrition education intervention had the potential to engage students and create health-promoting behaviours.

Impact of Taste on Food Choices in Adolescence-Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Studies of adults report that perceived taste affects food choices and intake, which in turn may have an impact on health. However, corresponding evidence on adolescents is limited. Our aim was to summarize current evidence of the impact of taste perception on food choice preferences or dietary intakes among adolescents (mean age 10–19.9 years). Systematic searches identified 13 papers, 12 cross-sectional and one cohort study published between 1 January 2000 to 20 February 2020 assessing the impact of taste (using phenotypic and/or genotypic markers) on food choices in adolescents without any disease conditions. Qualitative assessment in the current review indicated that individuals sensitive to bitter tastes often have a lower preference of bitter-tasting food and higher preference for sweet-tasting food. A meta-analysis of three studies on bitter-taste sensitivity revealed no difference in preference for bitter-tasting vegetables between bitter tasters and non-tasters (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.04; 95% CI: −0.18, 0.26; p = 0.72). Overall, a limited number of studies were available for review. As a result, we report no clear relationship between taste perception and food choices or intake in adolescents. More studies are needed to evaluate the link between adolescents’ taste perceptions and dietary intake.

P114 The Potential Impacts of Childhood Experiences of Forced Eating on Vegetable Consumption Among Korean Young Adults

<h3>Background</h3> Previous research has highlighted that forced eating might lead to a long-lasting food rejection. Vegetables are the most common subject of forced eating due to their sensory bitterness, causing an instinct-guided rejection. Currently, unbalanced diet with insufficient vegetable consumption is being recognized, particularly among young adults. This problem appears to be associated with multi-dimensional factors but might also be related to experiences of forced eating. <h3>Objective</h3> This study aimed to explore the potential impacts of childhood experiences of forced eating on vegetable consumption among Korean young adults. <h3>Study Design, Setting, Participants</h3> An online survey was conducted from February 1824, 2020 among Korean young adults in their 20s. Out of 1277 responses, 461 (36.1%) responses reporting to have experienced forced eating were analyzed. <h3>Measurable Outcome/Analysis</h3> Descriptive statistics were calculated, and significant differences in vegetable consumption (ie, vegetable preference, vegetable acceptance, and perceived daily intake of vegetables) were measured according to experiences of forced eating. <h3>Results</h3> Forced eating occurred mostly when they were elementary school students (57.2%), and preschool children (21.2%). It happened mostly frequently at home (51.0%), followed by schools (26.5%). Respondents mostly identified parents (50.1%), followed by school teachers (26.0%) as authority figures involved in forced eating. Approximately 41.0% of them were still not able to eat the target foods of forced eating, and 44.2% acknowledged its negative impacts on their current dietary habits. Among the target foods of forced eating, vegetables were most prevalent (57.9%). Vegetable preference, vegetable acceptance, and perceived daily intake of vegetables tended to be significantly lower when they had experiences of forced eating. <h3>Conclusions</h3> This study implies that childhood experiences of forced eating could make negative impacts on future dietary habits related to vegetable consumption. Despite some limitations, it may shed light on the importance and necessity of preventing forced eating during childhood and intervening its negative impacts on dietary habits.

P142 Vegetable Intake, Preferences, and Variety in Michigan Gardeners Over a Single Gardening Season

<h3>Background</h3> Gardening is associated with health and health behaviors, including vegetable intake. Qualitative research has indicated that gardening may increase preferences for vegetables, which may contribute to higher vegetable intake frequency found in gardeners, but quantitative research examining vegetable preferences of gardeners is scarce. <h3>Objective</h3> The objective of this pilot study was to examine vegetable preferences, variety, and intake consumed before gardening and during peak harvest time. This data was collected as part of a larger study examining the relationship between gardening and the composition of the gut microbiome. <h3>Study Design, Setting, Participants</h3> Participants were adults enrolled in a gardener support program that serves both home and community gardeners. Thirty-two percent of participants had no previous gardening experience, 36% had 1-5 years of gardening experience, and 32% had 5 or more years of experience. Twenty-nine participants enrolled in the study and completed a baseline survey prior to beginning gardening and 25 of these completed a follow-up survey at the peak of garden harvest. <h3>Measurable Outcome/Analysis</h3> Surveys assessed vegetable intake frequency, preferences for 20 different vegetables, and number of the 20 different vegetables eaten in the past month (variety). Paired, 2-tailed t-tests were used to compare pre-gardening and harvest time survey data. T-tests were considered significant at <i>P</i> < .05. <h3>Results</h3> Preferences for vegetables were initially high and did not increase from baseline to harvest time. Vegetable consumption frequency in times per day also did not significantly change from baseline to harvest time. Vegetable intake variety significantly increased from 12.1(SD ± 2.9) at baseline to 13.6(SD ± 3.1) at harvest time (<i>P</i> = .026). <h3>Conclusions</h3> In this study, we found gardeners consumed a greater variety of vegetables during harvest time than before gardening. Previous research has found that consuming a high variety of plant-based foods has a positive influence on gut microbiome diversity. This has relevance to the primary aim of this study, to examine the relationship between gardening and gut microbiome composition.

Assessment Of Pre-season Body Composition, Meal Patterns, Food Choices And Preferences In NCAA Division 1 College Athletes

The transition from high-school to college is typically associated with substantial changes in body composition, eating patterns, and food choices. PURPOSE: To assess pre-season body composition, eating patterns, food choices and preferences in Division I NCAA college athletes. METHODS: 118 incoming first-year athletes (males: n=69, BMI 25.5±5.5 kg/m2; females: n=49, BMI 22.3±2.7 kg/m2) from basketball, football, soccer, lacrosse, cross-country and tennis teams were recruited. Meal Patterns (MPQ), Food Preferences (FPQ) and Food Choices (FCQ) Questionnaires were used to assess eating patterns, factors that influence food choices and preferences. Body composition was assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for lean body mass (LBM), fat mass (FM) and body fat % (BF%). A two-way ANOVA was used for analysis with significance accepted at p<0.05. RESULTS: Evening (86.2%) and lunch (66.1%) meals were the most frequently consumed meals followed by breakfast (52.5%) and evening snacks (21.2%). Nocturnal eating (eating during the night after having been to sleep) was the least common form of eating (31.4%). There was no significant difference observed in FPQ and FCQ between genders (p>0.05). However, a significant difference was observed in the importance of food for weight control (p=0.02), preference for vegetables (p=0.03) and starches (p=0.02) among sports. In addition, significant body composition differences were observed between males and females (FM: 13.4±10.9 kg and 17.0±7.3 kg, LBM: 67.5±9.0 kg and 44.8±5.3 kg, BF%: 14.8±8.4% and 26.7±7.3 %, p<0.001, respectively) and among sports (p<0.001 ). CONCLUSIONS: Certain eating patterns, such as skipping breakfast or lunch meals, may be detrimental to the maintenance of appropriate body composition in their sport. In addition, athletes in the endurance sports had higher preference for starches and based their food choices on the need to control weight.

P116 Serving Their Needs: Nutrition Policy Implementation in the Early Care and Education Setting

Background Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States and results in increased risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Thirteen percent of youth in Georgia are obese. Identifying strategies to assist children in establishing healthy habits is essential to reduce the risk of childhood obesity. The Early Care and Education (ECE) setting is ideal for the implementation of obesity prevention practices. However, there are barriers present for implementing nutrition policies in this setting. Objective The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the implementation of food and beverage best practices in the ECE setting and highlight barriers and facilitators to adopting these policies. Study Design, Setting, Participants The study sample included ECE teachers in Georgia serving children ages 0-5. A randomized, stratified sample of facilities was selected. Researchers conducted 24 interviews and 6 focus groups with ECE program directors and teachers in 6 regions in Georgia. A trained qualitative researcher facilitated focus groups and interviews. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Data were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative data analysis software, NVivo 10, was used to code data and identify emergent themes. Results Several key themes related to barriers against food and beverage policy implementation emerged, including the need for enhanced parent communication, resources to limit juice consumption, and support to decrease food costs. Facilitators of nutrition policy implementation included ease of access to water, children's preferences for fruits and vegetables, and availability of existing nutrition resources. Findings will inform the development of resources to support nutrition policy implementation as well as policy training for ECE teachers in Georgia. Conclusions Study findings may provide insight about how to improve current resources and develop new strategies to promote adoption and implementation of nutrition policies in the ECE setting. Funding Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Examining associative conditioning with a positive peer context as a strategy to increase children's vegetable acceptance.

Children's vegetable acceptance increases following repeated exposure and associative conditioning pairing a target vegetable with a well-liked food. Yet traditional pairings may increase energy intake when well-liked foods are calorie-rich. To examine whether pairing a non-food stimulus with target vegetables increases children's vegetable acceptance and whether effects exceed those of repeated exposure. Twenty-three 6-to-8-year-old children participated in twice-weekly sessions across 6 weeks of a summer camp serving children from low-income families. First- and second-grade camp classrooms were randomly assigned to associative conditioning and repeated exposure groups, respectively. Liking and preference were assessed for seven vegetables at pre/post-test. For each child, two non-preferred vegetables were randomly assigned as the target or control. During exposures, associative conditioning group children experienced a positive peer context (involving group games) paired with tasting their target vegetable. The repeated exposure group received only taste exposures; target vegetable liking was assessed. Preferences for target vegetables increased from pre- (Median = 6.00) to post-test (Median = 3.00) overall (P = .007), but did not differ by group (P = .59). Group, time and interaction effects on vegetable liking were non-significant overall (P ≥ .29), with some evidence of group differences when examining select time points. Findings can inform future research aiming to increase vegetable preferences in community settings.