Penn State researchers are reporting that simply increasing the amount of vegetables served in the first course of lunch to preschoolers can dramatically increase their vegetable intake during the meal.
Researchers served lunch to 51 children at a daycare center on four occasions and measured their vegetable intake.
Children were provided with no carrots or 30 grams (about 1 ounce), 60 grams (about 2 ounces), or 90 grams (about 3 ounces) of carrots as the first course of their lunch.
The children had 10 minutes to eat the carrots, after which researchers served them pasta, broccoli, unsweetened applesauce, and low-fat milk.
They found that when children received no first course of carrots, they consumed about 23 grams of broccoli from the main course.
When the children received 30 grams of carrots at the start of the meal, their broccoli intake rose by nearly 50 percent compared to having no carrots as a first course.
But to the researchers surprise, when the first course of carrots was increased to 60 grams of carrots, average broccoli consumption nearly tripled to about 63 grams - about a third of the recommended daily vegetable intake for preschool children.
Researchers suggest that if parents are looking for ways to boost their children's vegetable intake - simply putting some vegetables out for them to snack on while they're hungry might do the trick. The findings were reported in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Researchers served lunch to 51 children at a daycare center on four occasions and measured their vegetable intake.
Children were provided with no carrots or 30 grams (about 1 ounce), 60 grams (about 2 ounces), or 90 grams (about 3 ounces) of carrots as the first course of their lunch.
The children had 10 minutes to eat the carrots, after which researchers served them pasta, broccoli, unsweetened applesauce, and low-fat milk.
They found that when children received no first course of carrots, they consumed about 23 grams of broccoli from the main course.
When the children received 30 grams of carrots at the start of the meal, their broccoli intake rose by nearly 50 percent compared to having no carrots as a first course.
But to the researchers surprise, when the first course of carrots was increased to 60 grams of carrots, average broccoli consumption nearly tripled to about 63 grams - about a third of the recommended daily vegetable intake for preschool children.
Researchers suggest that if parents are looking for ways to boost their children's vegetable intake - simply putting some vegetables out for them to snack on while they're hungry might do the trick. The findings were reported in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
All research on this web site is the property of Leslie Beck Nutrition Consulting Inc. and is protected by copyright. Keep in mind that research on these matters continues daily and is subject to change. The information presented is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. It is intended to provide ongoing support of your healthy lifestyle practices.