Trying to get your little fussy eater to eat vegetables? Adding a variety of veggies to your child's diet can increase the acceptance and preferences for vegetables.
- Variety could be the key to teaching kids to eat more vegetables
- Including a wide range of colorful veggies to your little fussy eater’s diet can ideally increase their acceptance and preferences for vegetables
- Serve multiple vegetables to make your child crave for veggies
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"This study introduces an effective strategy for parents wanting to address this deficiency."
Details of the Study
The study recruited 32 families with children between the ages of four and six where low consumption of vegetables was reported. Parents completed an online survey and attended an information meeting prior to participating. Three groups were created: children introduced to a single vegetable; children to receive multiple vegetables; and a group where eating habits were not changed.
Study data were collected in several ways: two dinner meals served at the research facility during which children could eat as much of the broccoli, cauliflower and green beans as they wished; changes to actual vegetables consumed at home, childcare or school recorded through food diaries; and parents reporting on usual vegetable consumption.
Findings of the Study
Vegetable acceptance increased for both the single and multiple vegetable groups during the intervention. Families that offered multiple vegetables recorded an increase in consumption from .6 to 1.2 servings, while no change in consumption was observed in families serving a single vegetable or families that did not change their eating habits.
Increased acceptance for multiple vegetables was noted during the five weeks of the study and sustained at three-month followup. Following the study parents reported that offering the vegetables was ‘very easy’ or ‘quite easy’ with the majority following the instructions provided by the study.
Key Note of the Study
Dr. Poelman recommended, "While the amount of vegetables eaten increased during the study, the amount did not meet dietary guidelines. Nonetheless, the study showed the strategy of offering a variety of vegetables was more successful in increasing consumption than offering a single vegetable."
Reference:
- Multiple vs Single Target Vegetable Exposure to Increase Young Children's Vegetable Intake - (https://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(19)30896-6/fulltext)
Source-Eurekalert