Serving larger portions of fruits and vegetables together at dinner promotes intake of both foods among young children

Abstract

Serving larger portions of energy-dense foods has been shown to promote children's energy intake at meals. Whether larger portions increase children's intake of both fruits and vegetables (F&V) is less clear. A 2×2 within-subjects design systematically varied portion sizes of fruit (75 vs 150 g) and vegetable (75 vs 150 g) side dishes served at dinner. Children's F&V liking was measured using a validated tasting method. Thirty children aged 4 to 6 years were tested in a laboratory setting at 5:00 pm on weekdays from November 2008 through March 2009. Mixed linear models were used to determine effects of fruit portion size, vegetable portion size, and their interaction on food and energy intakes. Data are presented as model-based means±standard error unless otherwise indicated. When portions were doubled, children increased their vegetable intake by 37% (12±4 g; P<0.01) and their fruit intake by 70% (41±6 g; P<0.01). Vegetable portion size effects were not influenced by offering more fruit and vice versa. Portion size effects were limited to children who liked that particular food. Total meal energy intake did not vary by portion size condition. These results indicate that serving larger F&V portions at meals can be used to promote young children's intake of both foods without influencing total meal energy intake. Effects were not seen in children who disliked F&V, suggesting a need to combine increased F&V portions with strategies to increase their acceptance.

Figure 1

Children’s intakes of a fruit side dish (mean ± SE) at a dinner meal across four experimental conditions (n=30). (75 F = 75 g fruit served, 75 V = 75 g vegetable served, etc.) Mixed linear model analysis indicated a main effect of fruit portion size on intake (A vs. B, P<0.05). The effect of portion size on children’s fruit intake was not influenced by the portion size of vegetable offered.

Figure 2

Children’s intakes of a vegetable side dish (mean ± SE) at a dinner meal across four experimental conditions (n=30). (75 V = 75 g vegetable served, 75 F = 75 g fruit served, etc.) Mixed linear model analysis indicated a main effect of vegetable portion size on intake (A vs. B, P<0.05). The effect of portion size on children’s vegetable intake was not influenced by the portion size of fruit offered.