Popeye cartoon inspires kids to have veggie food

Bothered about your kids not eating enough veggies through the day? Well, then show him Popeye cartoon, systematize tasting parties and involve them while you cook food for the family.

A new study has bring into being that Popeye cartoons, tasting parties and junior cooking classes could encourage kindergarten kids to increase their vegetable intake.

Researchers have found the type and amount of vegetables children ate improved after they took part in a program using multimedia and role models to promote healthy food.

Twenty-six kindergarten children aged four to five involved themselves in the eight week study.
The researchers recorded the kinds and quantity of fruit and vegetables eaten by the children before and after the program.

"We got the children planting seeds, taking part in fruit and vegetable tasting parties, cooking vegetable soup, and watching Popeye cartoons. We also sent letters to parents with tips on cheering their kids to eat fruit and vegetables, and teachers sat with children at lunch to role model healthy eating," said lead researcher Professor Chutima Sirikulchayanonta.

The researchers found vegetable intake doubled and the types of vegetables the children frenzied increased from two to four.

Parents also reported their children talked about vegetables more often and were conceited they had eaten them in their school lunch.

Parents said there was no noteworthy change in the kinds of fruit eaten by the children, but this was probably because they were already eating more fruit than vegetables at the start of the study.

Sirikulchayanonta said that concentrating on healthy food choices at an early age can have a major impact on the future health of adults.

The research also highlights that sitting next to children and eating the same foods as them makes children feel exceptional.

''Tasting'' parties are an pleasant way for children to compare tastes of fruit and vegetables.
Involving children in food preparation activities, like measuring, pouring and stirring helps them learn the names and colors of foods, and develops their hand-eye synchronization.