Food dudes show way to healthy eating
The encouraging initial findings from Gaelscoil Mide in Kilbarrack, Dublin, indicate that the average percentage of vegetables consumed by the children increased from 24% to 62% and the average percentage of fruit consumed increased from 57% to 72%.
Bord Glas said the Irish study, modelled on the success of the Bangor Programme, developed by psychologists at the University of Wales, is a significant step towards increasing fruit and vegetable consumption levels and therefore child nutrition.
Research shows that 74% of the population over 8 years of age is eating four or more portions of fruit and vegetables per day, but that consumption tends to be lower among younger people and the lower income groups.
Other initial findings indicate significant increases in the consumption of specific vegetables and fruit.
For example, the average percentage of carrots consumed increased from 29% to 78% while consumption of the already popular banana increased by 15%.
Bord Glas selected two schools on a demographically representative basis, both Dublin-based, with one in Kilbarrack and the other in Crumlin.
Chief executive Michael Maloney said the authority is hopeful the result of the Irish Food Dudes programme will be consistent with research findings in Britain, which demonstrated a large and long-lasting increase in fruit and vegetable consumption among students.
Phase one of the Bord Glas programme conducted in Gaelscoil Inse Chor (Inchicore) and Gaelscoil Mide (Kilbarrack) in Dublin consisted of an intervention phase followed by a maintenance phase.
Children were shown a six-minute Food Dude Video episode each day, immediately before lunch, for 16 days. Fruit and vegetables were then provided at lunch and school staff rewarded children for tasting them or for eating whole portions.
Rewards consisted of items such as Food Dude stickers, pencils and erasers. Homepacks were also provided to parents to encourage children to eat fruit and vegetables outside of school.
This was followed by a maintenance phase where no videos were shown and the rewards became more intermittent. Schools are being encouraged to use a range of Food Dude materials to move towards self-sustaining healthy eating practices.
"The initial results of the pilot programme illustrates how children's eating habits can be positively influenced from an early age without them feeling that they are being preached at by teachers or parents.
"The Food Dude Programme functions in the same way as junk food advertising by making fruit and vegetables cool and trendy among children, but with the added advantage of promoting healthy eating," said Mr Maloney.
