Open AccessEffectiveness of a kindergarten-based intervention to increase vegetable intake and reduce food neophobia amongst 1-year-old children: a cluster randomised controlled trial
Author(s) -
Eli Anne Myrvoll Blomkvist,
Andrew K Wills,
Sissel Heidi Helland,
Elisabet Rudjord Hillesund,
Nina Cecilie Øverby
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
food and nutrition research/food and nutrition research. supplement
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1654-6628
pISSN - 1654-661X
DOI - 10.29219/fnr.v65.7679
Subject(s) - neophobia , medicine , intervention (counseling) , meal , randomized controlled trial , environmental health , cluster randomised controlled trial , pediatrics , nursing , surgery , pathology , psychiatry
Background Children’s first years of life are crucial to their future health. Studies show that a varied diet with a high intake of vegetables is positive in several domains of health. The present low vegetable intake amongst children is, therefore, a concern. Food neophobia is a common barrier to vegetable intake in children. As most Norwegian children attend kindergarten from an early age, kindergartens could contribute to the prevention of food neophobia and the promotion of vegetable intake. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a cluster randomised trial amongst 1-year-old children in kindergarten to reduce food neophobia and promote healthy eating. Methods Kindergartens were randomly allocated to either a control group or one of two intervention groups. Both intervention groups (diet and diet + Sapere-method) were served a warm lunch meal including three alternating intervention vegetables, whilst the intervention group 2 (diet + Sapere) in addition received tools for weekly sensory lessons. The intervention was digitally administered via information and recipes on a study website. The control group did not receive any information. Parents completed digitally distributed questionnaires addressing food neophobia and food habits at baseline and post-intervention. Results The parents of 144 1-year-old children in 46 kindergartens completed the questionnaires, which were included in the main analysis. The results suggested a higher intake of the intervention vegetables in group 2 (diet + Sapere) compared to the control group. The effect on total vegetable intake was inconclusive. No effect was observed on the level of food neophobia in either of the intervention group. Conclusion This digitally delivered dietary and sensory intervention promoted the intake of intervention-targeted vegetables with inconclusive effect on total vegetable intake due to large loss to follow-up. No effect on the level of food neophobia was detected.