Preschoolers Can Distinguish Between Healthy and Unhealthy Foods: The All 4 Kids Study

• Published in: Journal of nutrition education and behavior 2014-03, Vol.46 (2), p.121-127
• Main Authors: Sigman-Grant, Madeleine, PhD, RD, Byington, Teresa A., PhD, Lindsay, Anne R., MS, Lu, Minggen, PhD, Mobley, Amy R., PhD, RD, Fitzgerald, Nurgül, PhD, RD, Hildebrand, Deana, PhD, RD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child Nutrition Sciences - education; Child, Preschool; Female; Food; food preference; Food Preferences - psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; health; Health Education - methods; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Promotion - methods; Humans; Internal Medicine; Intervention; Male; Nutrition; Nutrition education; Nutrition Instruction; Preferences; Preschool children; preschoolers; Regression Analysis; Students - psychology; United States
• ISSN: 1499-4046; 1878-2620; 1708-8259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2013.09.012

Abstract Objective To determine changes in preschoolers' ability to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy foods and stated food preferences after participation in a nutrition education program. Design Pre-post comparison/intervention study with sites clustered based on center size and language. Setting Preschool classrooms. Participants A total of 191 preschoolers from Nevada and 128 from Connecticut, New Jersey, and Oklahoma. Intervention All 4 Kids , a 24-lesson program taught by trained instructors. Main Outcome Measures Pre- and post-assessment sum scores for identifying 18 foods; stated preference for, and distinguishing between, healthy vs unhealthy choice from 9 food pairs using a newly designed tool. Analysis t tests; multiple linear and logistic regression models. Results There was a statistically significant improvement in identification scores from pre- to post-study for both groups from Nevada ( P < .001). For preference and distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy foods, no differences were noted at pretest. At posttest, significantly more intervention than comparison preschoolers indicated a preference for healthier foods ( P < .006) and an ability to distinguish them ( P  < .03). Outcome comparison between Nevada and 3 states demonstrated generalizability of the study tool. Conclusions and Implications Participation in All 4 Kids resulted in preschoolers' increased understanding of healthy foods and changed their stated food preferences.