The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that at least half a child’s plate include fruits and vegetables. However, in Kentucky, we are not meeting this recommendation with 43% of children aged 1-5 years consuming fruit less than daily and 54% of children consuming vegetables less than daily. Establishing healthy eating patterns in early childhood is important to ensure proper growth and development and because of the impact it can have on health in adolescence and into adulthood.

Nutrition education that includes positive, encouraging language about sensory experiences with food can help children feel more comfortable to try new things. Dr. Yum’s Preschool Food Adventure is an evidence-based, interactive curriculum that encourages preschool-aged children, 3-6 years, to engage with fruits and vegetables with all their senses. This program is shown to improve preschoolers’ attitudes and behaviors toward healthy eating, particularly with decreased food fussiness and increased food enjoyment. To support healthy eating practices in our community, the Wayne County Extension Office offered Dr. Yum’s Preschool Food Adventure to 4H Cloverbuds and Littles.  Each lesson included an educational component of the nutrients offered in the featured fruit or vegetable, an interactive portion for hands-on engagement with the produce, and an opportunity to taste the featured food, either in a recipe, on its own, or both. Children are encouraged to “join the team” by touching, smelling, and/or tasting the food.

Over the course of multiple lessons, forty children attended. Various fruits and vegetables were experienced.   Of those that attended the lessons, an average of ninety percent ate all the food offered. Another ten percent tried some of the food. A hundred percent were willing to engage with the food with their other senses including smell, sight, and/or touch. After given the opportunity to try the food, participants were asked whether they liked the food. Of these participants, ninety percent reported liking the featured food and ten percent reported somewhat liking the food.

Several parents also tried the recipes and reported they would make the recipe again at home with their children.

Repeatedly exposing children to fruits and vegetables in a fun, low pressure environment provides them with a chance to learn to like new foods.  Offering Dr. Yum’s Preschool Food Adventure with some of our youngest Kentuckians can help the next generation become adventurous eaters that enjoy more fruit and vegetables.