Abstract

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of food-based science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics
(STEAM) learning activities on preschoolers’ liking of 9 target vegetables and objectively-assessed fruit
and vegetable (FV) intake.
Methods: Seven hands-on, food-based STEAM learning activities were implemented to expose children
to 9 target vegetables in 3 Head Start preschools (11 classrooms) across North Carolina. Child-reported
vegetable liking scores and skin carotenoid status (SCS) were dependent variables collected at baseline,
midpoint, and posttest. Adjusted repeated-measures ANOVA was used to examine intervention impact.
Results: A total of 113 children (intervention = 49; comparison = 64) participated. Children were an average
age of 3.7 § 0.57 years at baseline. Mean target vegetable liking scores for the intervention and comparison
groups, respectively, were 3.2 § 0.19 and 3.2 § 0.17 at baseline, 2.9 § 0.17 and 3.1 § 0.15 at midpoint, and
2.8 § 0.15 and 3.1 § 0.13 at posttest. A time£ group interaction was not significant for target vegetable
liking scores. Mean SCS were 268.6 § 13.24 and 270.9 § 12.13 at baseline, 271.3 § 12.50 and 275.6 §
11.46 at midpoint, and 267.8 § 11.26 and 229.6 § 10.32 at posttest for the intervention and comparison
groups, respectively. A time£ group interaction was significant for SCS (F1,77=3.98; P = 0.02; r = 0.10).
Both groups declined from baseline to posttest (intervention = 0.06%; comparison = 15.09%), which
occurred after winter break, with a smaller decline observed in the intervention group (P = 0.02).
Conclusions and Implications: Food-based STEAM learning activities may present a unique opportunity
to affect FV intake while meeting academic standards. More research is needed to understand how
liking for familiar FV changes over time and its relationship with consumption. In addition, more implementation
research featuring larger sample sizes, teachers as the interventionist, and a longer study duration
is needed to confirm the outcomes of food-based STEAM learning observed in the current study and the
long-term impact this approach may have on children’s’ dietary quality.