Life Sciences Commons^™

A Sensory-Based Multi-Component School-Based Nutrition Intervention Among Fifth-Grade Students, Stacy Lyn Bevan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The nutritional status of children is declining as evidenced by the steady rise in childhood obesity rates over the last three decades. Consuming five servings of fruit and vegetables (FV) daily has shown to help with weight maintenance, but children are consuming far less than the recommended servings. This study was designed to test the efficacy of a sensory-focused multi-component school-based program at increasing vegetable intake among fifth-graders. Classroom, family, and community components allowed children to explore thirteen target vegetables with their senses including taste. Vegetable consumption was measured by digitalized observations of lunchtime vegetable selection and consumption. Vegetable acceptance …