Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41572835›Full record

ArticlePublic health nutrition2026

Beyond the plate: can a food-based science learning intervention improve preschool children's fruit and vegetable consumption?

Jocelyn B Dixon, Elizabeth G Blosser, Qiang Wu, L Suzanne Goodell, Joseph L Donaldson, Misty D Lambert, Ryan Lundquist, Tammy D Lee, Archana V Hegde, Savannah Baldwin and 2 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Public health nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Jocelyn B DixonDepartment of Agricultural & Human Sciences, https://ror.org/04tj63d06NC State University, NC State Extension, Ricks Hall, 1 Lampe Drive, Campus Box 7607, Raleigh, NC27695-7607, USA.
Elizabeth G BlosserDepartment of Agricultural & Human Sciences, https://ror.org/04tj63d06NC State University, NC State Extension, Ricks Hall, 1 Lampe Drive, Campus Box 7607, Raleigh, NC27695-7607, USA.
Qiang WuDepartment of Public Health, East Carolina University, 115 Heart Drive, Greenville, NC27834-4354, USA.
L Suzanne GoodellDepartment of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, NC State University, Schaub Food Science Bldg, 400 Dan Allen Dr, Raleigh, NC27606, USA.
Joseph L DonaldsonDepartment of Agricultural & Human Sciences, https://ror.org/04tj63d06NC State University, NC State Extension, Ricks Hall, 1 Lampe Drive, Campus Box 7607, Raleigh, NC27695-7607, USA.
Misty D LambertDepartment of Agricultural & Human Sciences, https://ror.org/04tj63d06NC State University, NC State Extension, Ricks Hall, 1 Lampe Drive, Campus Box 7607, Raleigh, NC27695-7607, USA.
Ryan LundquistDepartment of Agricultural & Human Sciences, https://ror.org/04tj63d06NC State University, NC State Extension, Ricks Hall, 1 Lampe Drive, Campus Box 7607, Raleigh, NC27695-7607, USA.
Tammy D LeeDepartment of Mathematics, Science, & Instructional Technology Education, East Carolina University, 038 W.H. Smith Blvd, Suite 102, Greenville, NC27834, USA.
Archana V HegdeDepartment of Human Development & Family Science, East Carolina University, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Greenville, NC27858, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4909-8366
Savannah BaldwinNC Head Start, Early Head Start and Child Care Partnership, Telamon TRC, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Ashleigh SchmittNC Head Start, Early Head Start and Child Care Partnership, Telamon TRC, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Virginia C StageDepartment of Agricultural & Human Sciences, https://ror.org/04tj63d06NC State University, NC State Extension, Ricks Hall, 1 Lampe Drive, Campus Box 7607, Raleigh, NC27695-7607, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6152-1438

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo examine the efficacy of a food-based intervention on preschool children's (3-5 years) fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption, as measured by skin carotenoid status (SCS) using the Veggie Meter

designQuasi-experimental intervention with baseline (T1), pre-intervention (T2) and post-intervention (T3) assessments of children's SCS. Intervention classrooms (ICs) received the programme, which featured food-based learning (FBL) and gardening. Comparison classrooms (CC) received a standard curriculum. Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) aligned menus were identical across all centres. Intervention teachers participated in semi-structured interviews to contextualise quantitative findings.

settingHead Start centres (

participants183 Head Start children (

resultsDuring the intervention period (T2-T3), significant SCS increases were observed in both groups: IC (T2 = 253·7, sd = 77·7; T3 = 299·0, sd = 77·4) and CC (T2 = 226·6, sd = 77·5; T3 = 255·9, sd = 79·9). The IC demonstrated a greater gain in SCS (17·8 % gain) than the CC (12·9 % gain). However, additional analyses revealed no significant difference in the SCS rate of change over time (

conclusionsThe findings suggest that increased access to FVs through CACFP-supported meals and snacks may influence children's overall improved FV consumption. However, improved food access paired with FBL may also support higher gains in FV consumption.

Indexed as

DietFruitHealth PromotionVegetablesCarotenoidsChild, PreschoolEarly Intervention, EducationalFemaleGardeningHumansLearningMaleNorth CarolinaSkinCarotenoidsFood-based learningGardeningHead StartPreschoolSkin carotenoids

Identifiers

PMID41572835
PMCPMC12895449

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.