title: The influence of cartoon character advertising on fruit and vegetable preferences of 9- to 11-year-old children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study is to determine the influence of cartoon characters in preferences of fruit and vegetables among children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 10-item survey was used in this cross-sectional study to determine the factors that influence a child's likelihood of eating fruits and vegetables. Seven factors influencing consumption of fruits and vegetables were rank ordered by 218 third- and fourth-grade students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicated that the child was more likely to eat fruits or vegetables if they tasted good, followed by whether they were nutritious. Presence of a cartoon character on the label ranked 6 of 7. Sex does not affect the rank order of factors that influence intake of fruits or vegetables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future interventions aimed at increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables should take into consideration such factors that influence intake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA.
authors.forename: Nandita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bezbaruah
authors.forename: Ardith
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunt
mesh_terms: D002359:Cartoons as Topic; D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education*; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology*; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002666:Psychology, Child; D014675:Vegetables