Raggio L, Gámbaro A. Study of the reasons for the consumption of each type of vegetable within a population of school-aged children.
BMC Public Health 2018;
18:1163. [PMID:
30290788 PMCID:
PMC6173934 DOI:
10.1186/s12889-018-6067-4]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Several studies have evaluated the existence of factors that influence the consumption of vegetables in children, such as family environment, daily exposure to one or several vegetables, parents' consumption and consumption pattern and the way in which vegetables are prepared in the household, among others. The objective of this study was to investigate the reasons for consumption associated with each vegetable in school-aged children through a survey designed to be answered by the parents.
METHODS
A preliminary study with 162 parents was carried out on the consumption of vegetables in children aged 6 to 12 years. Based on the information obtained, a survey was designed with 14 phrases to investigate the reasons for the low consumption of each type of vegetable among school-aged children, which was answered online by 419 parents.
RESULTS
The results obtained allowed us to categorise the vegetables into 6 groups. Group A consisted of tomatoes, corn, pumpkin and carrots as the vegetables that children like to eat most. Group B contains the vegetables that are consumed mostly camouflaged in other preparations, such as onions and red peppers. Group C contains only cauliflower, which was negatively associated with senses, such as colour, smell and taste. This vegetable was never offered to children by a high percentage of parents. Group D consists of green vegetables: zucchini, spinach, chard and peas. Vegetables of this group are added to other foods and the child usually ingests them camouflaged or obliged. Group E consists of beetroot, lettuce and broccoli. Beetroot and lettuce were the vegetables parents reported were most often rejected by their children. This rejection, they stated, was due to sensory aspects, such as colour, texture and taste.
CONCLUSIONS
The reasons for consumption among school-aged children depend on each type of vegetable and cannot be generalized. The sensory characteristics of the vegetable (mainly colour and flavour) and the habits of consumption in the family environment play a major role in children's acceptance or rejection of vegetables.
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