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A Cafeteria‐based Tasting Program Improved Elementary School Children's Fruit Preferences and Self‐Efficacy to Consume Fruits and Vegetables
Author(s) -
Wong WeiPing,
Lakkakula Anantha,
Zanovec Michael,
Geaghan James,
Pierce Sarah,
Tuuri Georgianna
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.781.9
Subject(s) - wine tasting , cafeteria , intervention (counseling) , psychosocial , medicine , psychology , environmental health , food science , biology , nursing , pathology , wine , psychiatry
This study examined the impact of a fruit and vegetable (FV) tasting program on 3rd and 5th grade children's preferences and psychosocial factors associated with FV intake. Four public schools in southeastern Louisiana participated. Two schools served as the intervention group where children were given a taste of 4 fruits or 4 vegetables on a rotating schedule for 8 weeks followed by two weeks of tasting 4 months post‐ intervention (follow‐up). Two control schools received brightly colored posters which were posted in the cafeteria each week. A questionnaire administered at baseline, post‐intervention, and after follow‐up tastings assessed 38 FV preferences, self‐efficacy, social norms, and outcome expectations for FV consumption. 161 children (52% 3rd graders) who tasted fruits at least 8 times and vegetables at least 20 times during the 10‐week tasting program were included in the analysis. Children in the intervention group reported increased preferences from baseline to post‐intervention (p=0.04) and follow‐up (p=0.01) for apricots, avocados, cantaloupe, kiwi, mangos and papaya compared to the control group. Children's self efficacy to consume fruits and vegetables in the intervention group increased from baseline to follow‐up (p=0.01). These findings suggest that a FV tasting program positively impacts fruit preferences and self‐efficacy to consume FV. Funding: USDA Grant #2009‐35200‐05287