Food Quality and Preference | 2019
Supersize me. Serving carrots whole versus diced influences children’s consumption
Abstract
Abstract Children in Australia and similar countries consume low amounts of vegetables. The present study investigated if children’s carrot consumption can be heightened by providing whole vs diced carrots in a real life setting. Children (n\u202f=\u202f60, 25 males, ages 8.6\u202f±\u202f1.6 yrs.) watched a 90-min movie on two different occasions, while randomly being served 1000\u202fg of diced carrots on one occasion and whole carrots on the other occasion. Consumption, hunger and taste liking were measured at the start, 10\u202fmin and 90\u202fmin after the consumption period started. Overall, the consumption of whole carrots (median intake: 39\u202fg after 10\u202fmin) was significantly higher (Z\u202f=\u202f−2.4, p\u202f=\u202f0.02), than the consumption of diced carrots (median intake: 26\u202fg after 10\u202fmin), and trended towards being higher after 90\u202fmin (median intake whole: 126\u202fg, median intake diced: 66\u202fg, z\u202f=\u202f−1.7, p\u202f=\u202f0.08). The majority of children (67%) consumed more whole than diced carrots with the increase in consumption being on average 75% greater when carrots were presented whole as opposed to diced. Although liking of carrots was significantly correlated with consumption (diced: r\u202f=\u202f0.63, p\u202f The present study suggests that serving carrots whole, rather than diced could be a promising strategy to increase children’s vegetable consumption in a snacking occasion.