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Increasing Preschool Children's Acceptance of Vegetables

Gardner, Becky M
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1187286405

Abstract Details

2007, Master of Family and Consumer Sciences (MFCS), Bowling Green State University, Family and Consumer Sciences/food and Nutrition.
Eighty percent of preschoolers have an inadequate vegetable intake. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of two interventions to increase acceptance for disliked vegetables, if exposure to novel vegetables increases acceptance of non-target vegetables, and how the family food environment (FFE) relates to child preference, and if parents have consistent FFE practices. The sample was 33 children from the Child Development Center, Bowling Green State University and their parents (n = 51). Children in the morning session (n = 17) received the Classroom intervention, which involved children in food preparation. The children in the afternoon session (n = 16) received the Parent Education intervention, which included nutrition education handouts and vegetables sent home. Parents completed a 38 item FFE questionnaire at baseline and after the intervention. Children were assessed for food preference at baseline, after the intervention, and again two weeks later. Preference was measured using a 3-point scale (1 = dislike, 3 = like). Although there was a trend for increased mean preference scores from baseline, to post and follow-up in both the classroom (beets: 1.17 ± .58, 1.92 ± .95, 1.82 ± .98; zucchini: 1.44 ± .81, 1.80 ± .94, 1.88 ± .96) and parent interventions (beets 1.75 ± .97, 1.92± .99, 2.08 ± .99; zucchini 1.77 ± .93, 2.07 ± .99, 2.07 ± .92), respectively, there were no significant differences between time periods. Preference for three non-target foods (avocado, eggplant, turnips) showed no change, although with avocado there was a non-significant increase from baseline to post and follow-up evaluation in both classroom (1.00 ± .00, 1.67 ± .89, 2.00 ± 1.00) and parent (2.00 ± 1.04, 2.07 ± .83, 2.15 ± .80) interventions, respectively. Mothers’ and fathers’ pre (138.00 ± 10.19; 131.47 ± 13.38) and post (137.88 ± 10.38; 132.92 ± 9.31) FFE scores, were significantly correlated (r(15) = .69, p =.002 and r(7) = .89, p =.001), respectively. Parent FFE responses contrasted for 17 questions. Limitations include small sample size and inconsistent participation. Further research with parent and classroom interventions to increase child acceptance for vegetables is recommended.
Rebecca Pobocik (Advisor)
140 p.
preschool children; food preference; food preparation; parent education; novel vegetables; family environment

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Gardner, B. M. (2007). Increasing Preschool Children's Acceptance of Vegetables [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1187286405

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gardner, Becky. Increasing Preschool Children's Acceptance of Vegetables. 2007. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1187286405.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gardner, Becky. "Increasing Preschool Children's Acceptance of Vegetables." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1187286405

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1187286405
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© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.