Student name: Rita Novo

RUN-EU institution: Politécnico de Leiria, Portugal

Abstract

Background:

Children’s vegetable consumption remains below recommended levels despite the critical role of vegetables in promoting health. Identifying effective strategies to increase vegetable intake is therefore essential. The Veggies4myHeart Project aims to promote vegetable knowledge and consumption in preschool children through nutrition education strategies (NES).

Methods:

Veggies4myHeart is a prospective longitudinal study with children aged 2 to 6 years who attend preschools in the Leiria district, Portugal. Parents completed a questionnaire to characterise the sample. A storybook and a digital game were used as NES. The intervention consisted of 5 food education sessions, each focusing on one selected vegetable (lettuce, carrot, red cabbage, cucumber, and tomato). Vegetable knowledge and consumption were assessed pre-and post-intervention. Knowledge was evaluated through a taxonomic categorisation questionnaire. Consumption was assessed by recording the number of portions of each vegetable consumed. Wilcoxon test was used to compare pre-and post-intervention vegetable knowledge and consumption, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare differences between NES. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS software, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results:

Between 2021 and 2024, 574 children (52.6% female, mean age 4.22 ± 0.91) from 14 preschools participated. After the intervention, there was a statistically significant increase in vegetable knowledge (p<0.001). A statistically significant increase was observed in the consumption of 5 different vegetables and total intake (p<0.001). No statistically significant differences in knowledge were observed (p=0.127) between NES; however, for consumption, statistically significant differences were found, with the digital game leading to higher consumption of vegetables compared to the storybook (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

The Veggies4myHeart project effectively increased vegetable knowledge and consumption in preschoolers. It is essential to continue the intervention to promote vegetable familiarity and consumption. Parental and preschool teachers’ involvement should also be prioritised, given their key role in modelling and promoting healthy eating habits.

Keywords: educational project, vegetable consumption, preschool-aged children, vegetable knowledge, nutrition education strategies.