Evaluation of a Sensory-Based Food Education Program on Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Kindergarten Children

Objectives: To pilot whether a sensory-based food education program, "Rainbow Food Heroes," increases children's intended and actual fruit and vegetable consumption. Methods: The behavioral intervention, Rainbow Food Heroes, a sensory-based food education program, consisted of two 90-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of child nutrition & management Vol. 43; no. 1
Main Authors:	Gucciardi, Enza, Nagel, Robyn, Szwiega, Sylwia, Chow, Betty Yan Yan, Barker, Clare E, Nezon, Janet, Bian, Helen, Butler, Alana
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	School Nutrition Association 2019
Subjects:	Foods Instruction Foreign Countries Health Education Intention Intervention Kindergarten Learning Modalities Nutrition Instruction Outcomes of Education Sensory Experience Teaching Methods Urban Schools Workshops Young Children Canada
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Summary:	Objectives: To pilot whether a sensory-based food education program, "Rainbow Food Heroes," increases children's intended and actual fruit and vegetable consumption. Methods: The behavioral intervention, Rainbow Food Heroes, a sensory-based food education program, consisted of two 90-minute workshops delivered in one week, followed by a "Rainbow Plate" themed school assembly one week later. Baseline and post-intervention data were collected 11 days before the beginning of the intervention period and two days after the completion of the school assembly at the end of the intervention, respectively. The participants were 72 kindergarten children in a Canadian urban elementary school. The outcomes measured were intention to eat fruit and vegetables, number of colors of fruit and vegetables children selected, and actual consumption of these foods. Comprehension of the Rainbow Plate message was assessed by measuring the number of colors of pictures of fruit and vegetables added to a paper "theoretical Rainbow Plate" during the second workshop. Results: Post-intervention, children selected an average of 261.13 grams of fruit and vegetables compared to 185.96 grams at baseline assessment (75.17 grams more). They also selected more varied colors (0.3) on their plates compared to baseline. Children consumed an average of 159.35 grams post-intervention compared to 106.74 grams at baseline, which was an increase of 52.6 grams. Children added, on average, four different colored fruits and vegetables to their theoretical rainbow plates, which suggested good comprehension of the Rainbow Plate concept during the workshop. Applications to Child Nutrition Professionals: The Rainbow Food Heroes sensory-based food education program may influence children to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. The Rainbow Food Heroes program may be adopted as a fun sensory-based element of a nutrition curriculum.
ISSN:	1559-5676 1559-5676