Evaluation of various strategies to enhance children’s fruit and vegetable consumption: day care professionals’ view

Day cares are an ideal setting for developing healthy eating habits in childhood. The aim of this study was to investigate how day care professionals evaluate different strategies that have been shown to enhance children’s fruit and vegetable intake. Via an online survey, 71 day care professionals evaluated 11 strategies on five themes: attractiveness, ease of implementation, expected effectiveness, current use and intended future use. The statements were answered on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from totally disagree to totally agree. Setting a good example (6.5±0.8) and food preparation or gardening (6.3±1.0) were perceived as most attractive and most effective strategies (6.2±1.0 and 6.0±1.2 respectively). Setting a good example (6.4±0.7) and increasing familiarity via pictures, songs or stories (5.6±1.1) were seen as easiest to implement. Three strategies that were currently most frequently used, were also the ones that professionals wanted to use more in the future: setting a good example, food preparation or gardening, and repeated exposure to unfamiliar fruits and vegetables. Using digital learning materials and using rewards were unpopular and scored low on all five aspects. To conclude, day care professionals perceived setting a good example, food preparation or gardening, repeated exposure, and using pictures, songs or stories as most promising strategies for enhancing children’s fruit and vegetable intake in the day care.