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International Journal of Recent Trends in Science and Technology, ISSN 2277-2812 E-ISSN: 2249-8109

Volume 4, Issue 2, 2012 pp 98-100

Research Article

Food Selection Acceptance: Activities for Promoting Pro-Vitamin A Foods among Young Children in Urban Slums

Madhavi Marathe^*, L.I. Bhattacharjee^**, Pradeep Sawardekar^***, Sunita Thorat^***, Gopa Kothari^***

^*S.N.D.T. Women’s University, Mumbai (MS) INDIA.

^**Institute of Nutrition Mahidol University, Salaya, THAILAND.

^***Child Eye Care Charitable Trust, Mumbai (MS) INDIA.

Academic Editor:  Dr. Aher K. R.

Introduction: Dietary and eating habits are largely formed during early childhood and healthy eating habits acquired at this age will provide sustainable nutrition and dietary benefits. Educating children to eat, enjoy, and ask for foods that meet their needs becomes an integral part of improving the nutritional status of young children. Objective: To study the food selection acceptance for providing Pro-Vitamin A Foods among Young Children in Urban Slums. Subjects and Methods: The subjects for the study included 250 pre-school children aged 3 to 6 years. The spontaneous preferences of vegetables and fruits and acceptance for various preparations were studied among these young children. Results: Bright coloured fruits and vegetables were preferred over light to dull coloured ones by the children. A strong preference was observed for the bright coloured pro-vitamin A foods over the more familiar and commonly purchased and prepared other vegetables and fruits. Colours have shown to influence the spontaneous selection of the vegetables and fruits to a large extent. Conclusions: Children preferred deep orange and red coloured pro-vitamin A foods over light and dull coloured ones.