Pilot Intervention Enhances Preschoolers’ Self-Regulation and Food Liking

The goal of this study was to develop and evaluate a 5-week intervention that targeted self-regulation and healthy food liking through mindfulness and classroom-based games with exposure to fruits and vegetables. Children (mean age, 3.6 ± 0.05 years) in 1 Head Start center received the classroom-bas...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of nutrition education and behavior 2020-11, Vol.52 (11), p.1035-1042
Main Authors: Schmitt, Sara A., Snyder, Frank, Korucu, Irem, Bryant, Lindsey M., Finders, Jennifer K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
food liking
intervention
preschool
self-regulation
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The goal of this study was to develop and evaluate a 5-week intervention that targeted self-regulation and healthy food liking through mindfulness and classroom-based games with exposure to fruits and vegetables. Children (mean age, 3.6 ± 0.05 years) in 1 Head Start center received the classroom-based intervention (n = 24) and children in a second did not (n = 15). Assessments of self-regulation and liking of fruits and vegetables were administered pre- and postintervention. Children in the intervention, but not the comparison group, experienced significant improvements in behavioral regulation (P = 0.003) and liking of fruits and vegetables (P = 0.02). This study lays a foundation for future research that replicates findings with a larger sample using a randomized controlled design, incorporates more typical mindful eating practices, and includes additional, broader measures of food liking.
ISSN:1499-4046
1878-2620
DOI:10.1016/j.jneb.2020.08.008