Using repeated visual exposure, rewards and modelling in a mobile application to increase vegetable acceptance in...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Behavioral Science
• Digital Health

Background:

• Children's low fruit and vegetable intake is a public health concern.
• Effective strategies include repeated exposure, modeling, and rewards.
• Mobile applications offer a novel platform to deliver these interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the evidence-based "Vegetable Maths Masters" mobile application.
• To determine if the app increases children's liking and acceptance of vegetables.
• To assess the impact on vegetable consumption in young children.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial with 74 children aged 3-6 years.
• Intervention group played "Vegetable Maths Masters" app; control group played a non-food app for 10 minutes.
• Vegetable liking and consumption measured pre- and post-intervention; parental data on food fussiness and exposure collected.

Main Results:

• Children using the "Vegetable Maths Masters" app showed significantly increased vegetable consumption post-play.
• Significant increases in vegetable liking were reported in the intervention group compared to controls.
• The app's effect on consumption was mediated by changes in vegetable liking.

Conclusions:

• Evidence-based mobile applications can effectively enhance children's vegetable liking and consumption in the short term.
• The "Vegetable Maths Masters" app demonstrates potential as a tool to improve pediatric dietary habits.
• Further research is needed to confirm the long-term sustainability of these effects.