Using Herbs and Spices to Increase Children's Acceptance and Intake of Vegetables in School Lunches

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Herbs and spices offer one potential solution to the recent decline in children taking school lunch because they can increase the palatability of foods without adding salt and fat. However, there is currently limited evidence on how to successfully integrate herbs and spices into the school lunch menu. Developing evidence-based methods to teach school cafeteria workers to prepare healthy and tasty vegetable dishes with the addition of herbs and spices is a research priority. The investigators hypothesize that herbs and spices can be used to increase acceptance, intake, and participation in the school lunch program among 6th - 12th grade students from Central Pennsylvania.

Detailed Description
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What this study will add to the literature: Herbs and spices offer one potential solution to the recent decline in children taking school lunch because they can increase the palatability of foods without adding salt and fat. However, there is currently limited evidence on how to successfully integrate herbs and spices into the school lunch menu. Developing evidence-based methods to teach school cafeteria workers to prepare healthy and tasty vegetable dishes with the addition of herbs and spices is a research priority. This research will provide evidence that herbs and spices can be used to increase acceptance, intake, and participation in the school lunch program among 6th - 12th grade students from Central Pennsylvania.

Official Title
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Using Herbs and Spices to Increase Children's Acceptance and Intake of Vegetables in School Lunches

Conditions
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Pediatric Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Spice Intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Student in Bald Eagle Area Middle/High School Parents of students in Bald Eagle Area Middle/High School School Food Service Employees at the Bald Eagle Area Middle/High School Exclusion Criteria: Students/children who have food allergies to herb/spice blend ingredients.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 11 Years
Maximum Age: 19 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Spice Intervention<br>Spice intervention: Student-approved vegetable recipes will be served in the school cafeteria. | Other: Spice Intervention<br>* Spice Intervention:Novel herb and spice blends will be used in cafeteria recipes.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Surveys defining barriers to vegetable consumption at Bald Eagle Area Middle/High School | Conduct surveys of students, parents and food service experts to gather information describing ways to increase vegetable intake at Bald Eagle Area Middle/High School | Baseline | 
| Taste tests to quantify the change in liking of vegetable recipes | Student's liking of vegetables prepared with herbs/spices will be assessed during the taste tests by setting up sensory panels in their culinary and consumer education classes. Participating students will rate liking and will provide written feedback to inform recipe development. | Baseline and after recipe development (approximately 10 months). Prior to intervention. | 
| Change in vegetable plate waste | Weight of vegetable disappearance from the school cafeteria, minus waste weight, in kg. | Baseline, Intervention and Follow-up (1 and 6 months) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| School lunch program participation | Percentage of children who are participating in the school lunch program will be assessed the school years prior to and immediately after the intervention | Baseline, Intervention and Followup (1 and 6 months) | 
| Post-meal comment cards | Student's will rate satisfaction with the school lunches by completing anonymous, post-meal comment cards during the baseline, intervention, and follow-up phases. | Baseline, Intervention and Followup (1 and 6 months) |