305224
Harvest for Healthy Kids: Impact of a farm-to-preschool pilot study on recognition of and attitudes towards fruits and vegetables among children enrolled in Head Start
Methods: Children (n=308) across five Head Start centers in Portland, Oregon participated in this quasi-experimental study. Two centers received foodservice modifications and classroom education (high-intervention); two centers received foodservice modifications only (low-intervention); one center served as a control. Children’s recognition, willingness to try, and liking of 9 featured fruits and vegetables were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used for comparison of post-intervention food-specific categorical variables for recognition, willingness to try, and liking among the groups.
Results: No differences among the groups existed at baseline. Post-intervention, the intervention centers consistently demonstrated higher recognition, willingness to try, and liking of featured foods, with the high-intervention scoring highest for most foods. For example, the proportion of children willing to try asparagus at post-intervention was 61.5%, 71.1%, and 87.0% for the control, low-, and high-intervention groups, respectively (p-value=0.00).
Discussion: This study suggests that Harvest for Healthy Kids had a positive impact on recognition, willingness to try, and liking of featured foods among study participants. Individuals and organizations interested in implementing nutrition interventions in early care and education settings should consider an approach that includes both foodservice modifications and classroom education.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programsConduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Other professions or practice related to public health
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Describe the key intervention components of Harvest for Healthy Kids
Discuss potential challenges of intervention research in early care and education settings
Discuss the implications of study findings for other nutrition interventions in early care and education settings
Keyword(s): Nutrition, Child Health Promotion
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator of Harvest for Healthy Kids and am principal investigator or co-investigator of multiple grants focusing on child nutrition.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.