Encouraging vegetable intake as a snack among children: the influence of portion and unit size.

Auteur(s) :
Van Kleef E., de Vet E., Bruggers I.
Date :
Avr, 2015
Source(s) :
Public health nutrition. #18:15 p2736-41
Adresse :
Wageningen University,Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Group,Hollandseweg 1,6709 KN Wageningen,The Netherlands. [email protected]

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OBJECTIVE: People eat more unhealthy foods when served more (portion size effect) and when the food is served in larger units (unit size effect). The present study aimed to examine whether these effects can be used for the good: to increase vegetable consumption among children.

DESIGN: A 2×2 between-subjects experiment was conducted at two schools. Pupils were presented in class with cucumber that varied both in unit size (one piece v. pre-sliced) and portion size (one-third v. two-thirds of a cucumber). Children ate ad libitum during the morning break and filled in a survey.

SETTING: Primary schools in the centre of the Netherlands.

SUBJECTS: Primary-school pupils (n 255) aged 8-13 years.

RESULTS: Children ate 54 % more cucumber when served a large compared with a smaller portion (difference of 49 g; P<0·001). Large units did not impact consumption (P=0·58), but were considered as less convenient to eat than small units (P=0·001).

CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that children's vegetable intake can be improved by serving larger portions in smaller-sized pieces.

Source : Pubmed
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