Potatoes as a Strategy to Improve Diet Quality in Young Children
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Enrolling By Invitation
- Sponsor
- Penn State University
- Enrollment
- 200
- Locations
- 1
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to examine whether incorporating potatoes into meals-either paired with other vegetables or served as a first course-can improve preschoolers' vegetable intake, reduce excess energy intake, and improve overall diet quality. Findings will be used to inform whether potatoes, a well-liked and commonly consumed vegetable, could be leveraged in several ways to improve the overall diet quality of children.
Detailed Description
The overall object of this study is to test potato-based strategies to improve diet quality in preschool age children. The specific aims are:
Aim 1: Determine if pairing potatoes with other less-preferred vegetables increases liking and intake of the non-potato vegetables.
Aim 2: Determine if potato-based dishes can be used strategically to reduce intake of more energy-dense entrees.
The effect of potato-based dishes on vegetable intake and total energy intake will be tested across four lunch-time sessions in preschool classrooms. Each lunch session will be randomly assigned to one of the potato dish conditions.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Crossover
- Primary Purpose
- Other
- Masking
- None
Masking Description
The intervention consists of different combinations of potatoes and vegetables, and data collection includes food intake, and thus masking is not possible for participants or investigators.
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 2 Years to — (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Enrolled in participating Head Start classroom
- •Age 2-6 years old
- •Parent/guardian of a participating child
- •Age 18 years or older
- •Able to read and answer questions in English
- •Teacher/teaching staff member of a participating Head State classroom
- •Age 18 years or older
- •Able to read and answer questions in English
Exclusion Criteria
- •Allergy to potatoes
- •Children who are not able to understand and answer questions in English may participate in all parts of the study except for the taste test ratings, which require the child to communicate with the research assistant
- •- Child not enrolled in the study
- •Teacher exclusion criteria:
Investigators
Emily Hohman
Associate Research Professor
Penn State University