International Congress on Abnominal Obesity
Am J Clin Nutr 91: 349-356, 2010. First published December 9, 2009; doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28529
 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28529
Vol. 91, No. 2, 349-356, February 2010
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© 2010 American Society for Clinical Nutrition

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION

Offering choice and its effect on Dutch children's liking and consumption of vegetables: a randomized controlled trial1,2,3

Gertrude G Zeinstra, Reint J Renes, Maria A Koelen, Frans J Kok and Cees de Graaf

1 From the Division of Human Nutrition (GGZ FJKCdG)the Department of Communication Science (RJRMAK) Wageningen University Wageningen Netherlands.

2 Supported by GGZ's PhD project, which is funded by the graduate schools VLAG and Mansholt of Wageningen University.

3 Address correspondence to C de Graaf, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, 6700 EV Wageningen, Netherlands E-mail: kees.degraaf{at}wur.nl.

Background: Children's vegetable consumption is below recommended amounts. According to self-determination theory, stimulating children's feelings of autonomy by offering a choice of vegetables may be a valuable strategy to increase their vegetable liking and consumption. The effect of choice-offering on children's vegetable liking and consumption has, to our knowledge, not yet been studied.

Objective: The objective was to investigate whether having a choice between 2 vegetables enhances children's vegetable liking and consumption.

Design: Three hundred three children (age: 4–6 y) were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 3 dinner conditions in a restaurant setting. Two similarly liked vegetables were presented, after which the child had no choice, a premeal choice, or an at-meal choice. Subsequently, the dinner was consumed with one parent present. Comparisons between the 3 conditions regarding children's meal experience, vegetable liking, and vegetable consumption were made by using analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Results: Children's vegetable consumption did not differ (P = 0.54) between the conditions as follows: 56 ± 45 g in the no-choice condition, 51 ± 46 g in the premeal-choice condition, and 49 ± 47 g in the at-meal-choice condition. In the no-choice condition, high-reactant children (who are more sensitive to psychological, persuasive pressure) consumed fewer vegetables (45 ± 42 g) than did low-reactant children (73 ± 43 g; P = 0.04). Vegetable liking was similar in all 3 conditions (P = 0.43). Children appreciated being able to choose in the premeal-choice condition.

Conclusions: A premeal choice between 2 vegetables was appreciated by the children but did not increase their vegetable liking and consumption. The no-choice condition decreased vegetable consumption in high-reactant children. Future research should investigate the effects of choice-offering in the long term and in more familiar eating settings. This trial was registered at controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN03035138.




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