Variations in Palatability and Portion Size of Vegetables on Meal Intake of Preschool Children

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of the study is to determine the effect of varying both the palatability and portion size of vegetables served to preschool children at a meal on the outcomes of food and energy intake at the meal.

Official Title
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Lunchtime Meal Feeding Study for Preschool Children

Conditions
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Feeding Behavior

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Plain Vegetables Served in 100% Portion Size
* Other: Plain Vegetables Served in 200% Portion Size
* Other: Enhanced Vegetables Served in 100% Portion Size
* Other: Enhanced Vegetables Served in 200% Portion Size


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Children who are enrolled in a scheduled classroom of the designated childcare centers Exclusion Criteria: Children who are allergic to any of the foods served Children whose diets exclude any of the foods served Children who will not be present at the childcare center for all of the scheduled study days

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 3 Years
Maximum Age: 5 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Standard Palatability and Standard Portion Size<br>Vegetables with Standard Palatability and Standard Portion Size | Other: Plain Vegetables Served in 100% Portion Size<br>* Lunch includes (a) vegetables without added flavoring (b) the baseline portion size of vegetables<br>|
| Experimental: Standard Palatability and Larger Portion Size<br>Vegetables with Standard Palatability and Larger Portion Size | Other: Plain Vegetables Served in 200% Portion Size<br>* Lunch includes (a) vegetables without added flavoring (b) 200% of the baseline portion size of vegetables<br>|
| Experimental: Enhanced Palatability and Standard Portion Size<br>Vegetables with Enhanced Palatability and Standard Portion Size | Other: Enhanced Vegetables Served in 100% Portion Size<br>* Lunch includes (a) vegetables with added flavoring (b) the baseline portion size of vegetables<br>|
| Experimental: Enhanced Palatability and Larger Portion Size<br>Vegetables with Enhanced Palatability and Larger Portion Size | Other: Enhanced Vegetables Served in 200% Portion Size<br>* Lunch includes (a) vegetables with added flavoring (b) 200% of the baseline portion size of vegetables<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Difference Between Interventions in Vegetable Intake | Weight of vegetables consumed at the meal (grams) | One meal per week for each intervention (Study weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Difference Between Interventions in Food Intake | Weight of food (including milk) consumed at the meal (grams) | One meal per week for each intervention (Study weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4) | 
| Difference Between Interventions in Meal Energy Intake | Energy consumed at the meal (kilocalories) | One meal per week for each intervention (Study weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4) | 
| Difference Between Interventions in Meal Energy Density | Energy density of the food consumed at the meal (kilocalories/gram) | One meal per week for each intervention (Study weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4) |