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Title: INTERACTIVE COMPUTERIZED FOOD PREFERENCE MEASURE FOR PRESCHOOLERS.

Author
item JARAMILLO, SANDRA - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE
item BROOKS, BRANDY - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE
item HUGHES, SHERYL - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE
item MORALES, MIRIAM - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE
item Fisher, Jennifer
item Nicklas, Theresa

Submitted to: Journal Of The American Dietetic Association
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2003
Publication Date: 9/1/2003
Citation: Jaramillo, S.J., Brooks, B.M., Hughes, S.O., Morales, M., Fisher, J., Nicklas, T. 2003. Interactive computerized food preference measure for preschoolers. Journal Of The American Dietetic Association. 103 (9 suppl): A30.

Interpretive Summary: Not required.

Technical Abstract: Preschoolers can provide valid and reliable information on their food preferences when food is presented to them. However, there are no innovative methods to measure food preferences of large groups of children in the field. A tasting measure of food preference by Birch 1979 was used as the basis for an animated, interactive, culturally sensitive computerized measure of pre-school children's preferences for fruits, juices and vegetables (FJV's) in both English and Spanish. Cycle menus were evaluated and cognitive interviews were conducted with child-care workers and teachers to select 30 FJV's frequently eaten by Hispanic and African-American children attending Head Start programs. Classroom observations were used to develop photographs to portray the FJV's as usually served to children. Child interviews were used to select an animated character to narrate the computer program. Test re-test reliability data using the computerized measure were collected at two Head Start centers in Houston, Texas, with a 7-14 day period separating assessments. The 30 FJV's were served in the 4-week cycle menu prior to pilot testing to ensure that children were familiar with those foods. Preliminary reliability data includes 33 preschoolers, 3-5 years of age, 16 African-Americans and 17 Hispanic-Americans. Test-re-test correlations were 0.78 for fruit, 0.63 for juices, and 0.80 for vegetables. This data provide preliminary support for the reliability of this new interactive instrument for assessing preferences of fruits, juices, and vegetables among low-income minority preschoolers.