Abstract
Background
Laboratory and home-based research suggest that repeated exposure to vegetables may
increase consumption among children. Effectiveness of repeated exposure to vegetables
has not been tested in a community-based preschool setting.
Objective
This randomized controlled trial tested the hypotheses that children who are served
unfamiliar vegetables repeatedly in the preschool lunch setting will increase consumption
of them, and that consumption will be influenced by peer eating behaviors and parental
feeding behaviors.
Subjects/setting
Data were collected in two private preschools in a small northeastern city in 2007.
Ninety-six children (aged 3 to 6 years) participated.
Design
Schools were randomly assigned to condition. During the first 6 weeks, Preschool A
served three vegetables at lunch on 10 separate occasions (ie, 30 days of exposure),
while Preschool B continued routine practice. In the 7th week, schools reversed conditions
and Preschool B served the vegetables for the next 6 weeks. Consumption data were
collected daily in the intervention school and at baseline and post-intervention meals
in the control school.
Primary outcomes/statistical analyses
Analysis of variance was used to examine the effect of vegetable exposure on vegetable
intake; multilevel models were used to examine the effect of peer eating behaviors
and parental feeding practices on vegetable intake.
Results
Repeated exposure did not increase vegetable consumption. Greater consumption by tablemates
was a significant predictor of greater vegetable consumption; across the three vegetables,
1 g of peer intake was associated with roughly a 1/5-g intake increase among the subjects.
Overall, children demonstrated wide fluctuation in vegetable consumption from day
to day, creating as much variability within subjects as between them.
Conclusions
Further research should explore the conditions necessary for repeated exposure to
increase vegetable consumption in preschool settings. Creating opportunities for young
children to serve as peer models has promise as a strategy to promote vegetable consumption.
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Biography
M. L. O'Connell is a research associate at the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Biography
K. E. Henderson is director of school and community initiatives and an associate research scientist at the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Biography
J. Luedicke is a biostatistician and research associate at the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Biography
M. B. Schwartz is deputy director and a senior research scientist at the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
September 30,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
