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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #167344
Title: INTERACTIVE COMPUTERIZED FOOD PREFERENCE MEASURE FOR PRESCHOOLERS

Author
item JARAMILLO, SANDRA - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item BROOKS, BRANDI - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item HUGHES, SHERYL - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item MORALES, MIRIAM - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item Fisher, Jennifer
item Nicklas, Theresa

Submitted to: Journal Of The American Dietetic Association
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2003
Publication Date: 9/1/2003
Citation: Jaramillo, S., Brooks, B., Hughes, S., Morales, M., Fisher, J., Nicklas, T. 2003. Interactive computerized food preference measure for preschoolers. Journal Of The American Dietetic Association. 103(9):A-36.

Interpretive Summary: AN INTERPRETIVE SUMMARY IS 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 (FJVs) in both English and Spanish. Cycle menus were evaluated and cognitive interviews were conducted with child-care workers and teachers to select 30 FJVs frequently eaten by Hispanic and African American children attending Head Start programs. Classroom observations were used to develop photographs to portray the FJVs 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 FJVs 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.