Veggie study (groenteonderzoek bij peuters om groente accepatie te stimuleren)

Children’s consumption of vegetables is below recommendations. To encourage children to eat more vegetables we need some innovative new strategies, easily applicable in real life situations/practice. By using techniques whereby vegetables are incorporated in other meal components the pure vegetable taste is somewhat diluted and therefore often more acceptable for children than in its pure form. However, it is currently unknown if masking, hiding or diluting the pure vegetable taste can contribute to taste development of vegetables in its pure form. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of offering vegetables in different gradients of taste on children’s vegetable liking and intake. If the strategy works in children, we can help to promote vegetable intake in children and by doing this research we want to gain an understanding of the vegetable taste development in children. The higher vegetable consumption will be a great benefit for children’s future eating pattern and their health. The study is accompanied with an information program about taste and nutrition of vegetables.

Primary objective: to investigate which strategy of offering vegetables in different gradients of tatste is most effective to increase children's vegetable intake. We expect that the vegetable offered in the diluted group and the vegetable offered in the hidden group are the most effective strategies to increase. Second objective: to investigate in which strategy the pure vegetable taste is most acepted and liked after the intervention.

This study will be carried out with families at home for a period of 6 weeks and the pre and post-tests will be performed at the day cares one week before and one week after the intervention (so total lenght of 8 weeks). Children will receive once per week at dinner time the target vegetable in different gradients of its pure taste depending on the condition. At the daycares they will receive the spinach just before lunch.

A randomized intervention study between subjects design with duration of 8 weeks. This study will be carried out with families at home for a period of 6 weeks and the pre and post-tests will be performed at the day cares one week before and one week after the intervention. Children will receive once per week at dinner time the target vegetable in different gradients of its pure taste depending on the condition. Children will be randomly assigned to one of the four conditions using a target vegetable that differed in taste gradient as test product. Children in the ‘control’ group (n = 30) will not receive the target vegetable but receive another vegetable (familiar). Children in the ‘pure’ group (n=30) will receive a bag with the target vegetable in its pure form. Children in the ‘mixed’ group (n=30) will receive a bag with the target vegetable already mixed with a flavor to dilute the pure strong taste of the vegetable. Children in the ‘hidden’ group will receive a bag with the target vegetable hidden in another food component, so the child is less aware of eating the target vegetable.