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. 2022 Apr;25(4):1061-1070.
doi: 10.1017/S1368980021004456. Epub 2021 Oct 27.

Nutrition education strategies to promote vegetable consumption in preschool children: the Veggies4myHeart project

Cátia Braga-Pontes  1   2   3 , Sara Simões-Dias  1   2   4 , Marlene Lages  1 , Maria P Guarino  1   2 , Pedro Graça  3
Affiliations

Nutrition education strategies to promote vegetable consumption in preschool children: the Veggies4myHeart project

Cátia Braga-Pontes et al. Public Health Nutr. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: To test the efficacy of three nutrition education strategies on the intake of different vegetables in preschool children.

Design: This is an experimental study conducted in four Portuguese preschools. The intervention consisted of 20-min educational sessions, once a week, for 5 weeks, with one of the following randomised educational strategies: Portuguese Food Wheel Guide (control), digital game, storybook, storybook and reward (stickers). All groups had repeated exposure to vegetables in all sessions. A pre- and post-test were conducted to determine vegetable intake, and a 6-month follow-up was realised.

Setting: Preschools of Leiria district, Portugal.

Participants: A sample of 162 children aged 3 to 6 years. All eligible children attending the preschools were invited to participate.

Results: All interventions tested were effective in increasing vegetable consumption both in the short and medium term, without statistically significant differences, compared to the control group. Stickers were more effective in the short term than in the medium term.

Conclusions: The nutritional education strategies associated with repeated exposure tested in this study were effective in promoting vegetable consumption in preschool children. The use of stickers may be a valid strategy to promote the consumption of vegetables less recognised by children.

Keywords: Child; Health education; Preschool; Vegetables; Video games.

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Figures

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Fig. 1
Flowchart methods
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Vegetable consumption variation in the four groups (digital game, storybook, storybook and stickers, and control group) at two different times: from pre-test to post-test and from pre-test to follow-up. From pre-test to post-test; from pre-test to follow-up
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