Background: The dietary choices we make as adults are greatly influenced by our food exposures during childhood. Most Americans do not meet the daily recommendations for vegetables. Diets low in the nutrients found in vegetables have been linked to chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. It is important to introduce a variety of vegetables in infancy so that affinity for vegetables may be permanently established early on.
Curricula: Two curricula were developed, one for breast-feeding mothers and one for bottle-feeding mothers. Both curricula include three modules of information designed to increase the vegetable consumption of the mothers and their children. Behavior modification guidance, patterned after the Social Cognitive Theory, is incorporated at the end of each module.
Evaluation: Evaluation of the breastfeeding curriculum found the mothers goals and objectives were clearly defined. Both curricula effectively supply the information each mother needs to increase her family’s vegetable intake.