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Current Nutrition Reports

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Open Access 01-06-2017 | Food Acceptance and Nutrition in Infants and Young Children (H Coulthard, Section Editor)

A Systematic Review of Methods for Increasing Vegetable Consumption in Early Childhood

Authors: Clare E. Holley, Claire Farrow, Emma Haycraft

Published in: Current Nutrition Reports | Issue 2/2017

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This study aims to synthesise the body of research investigating methods for increasing vegetable consumption in 2- to 5-year-old children, while offering advice for practitioners.

Recent Findings

Repeated exposure is a well-supported method for increasing vegetable consumption in early childhood and may be enhanced with the inclusion of non-food rewards to incentivise tasting. Peer models appear particularly effective for increasing 2–5-year-olds’ vegetable consumption. There is little evidence for the effectiveness of food adaptations (e.g. flavour-nutrient learning) for increasing general vegetable intake among this age group, although they show some promise with bitter vegetables.

Summary

This review suggests that practitioners may want to focus their advice to parents around strategies such as repeated exposure, as well as the potential benefits of modelling and incentivising tasting with non-food rewards. Intervention duration varies greatly, and considerations need to be made for how this impacts on success.

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Title: A Systematic Review of Methods for Increasing Vegetable Consumption in Early Childhood
Authors: Clare E. Holley
Claire Farrow
Emma Haycraft
Publication date: 01-06-2017
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Current Nutrition Reports / Issue 2/2017
Electronic ISSN: 2161-3311
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-017-0202-1

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Recent Findings

Summary

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