A curriculum based on social learning theory emphasizing fruit exposure and positive parent child-feeding strategies: a pilot study.
This study examined the effectiveness of a nutrition intervention program to enhance children's knowledge, preference, and intake of whole fruit and to decrease parents' use of controlling child-feeding behaviors. Subjects were fifth- and sixth-grade students (children aged 10-12 years) from Cincinnati, Ohio. Nine parent-child pairs completed the study. Seventeen parent-child pairs who expressed interest but were unable to attend more than one session served as controls. Based on the Social Learning Theory, the curriculum combined child-focused interactive lessons and skill-building activities with parent-focused lessons on child-feeding strategies to increase the fruit intake of children. Change in children's knowledge, preference, and intake of fruit and parents' use of controlling child-feeding strategies were measured in a pretest/posttest manner using validated questionnaires. There was a significant increase in knowledge scores and fruit intake by children in the experimental vs the control group. Fruit preference scores were similar between groups. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in use of controlling child-feeding strategies by parents in the intervention vs the control group.
Gribble
Laura Siem
LS
Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
Falciglia
Grace
G
Davis
Angela M
AM
Couch
Sarah C
SC
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009820:Ohio; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires