Evaluation of the Yes to Veg! Programme, a Food Systems Approach to Increase Vegetable Exposure and Agency in Pre‐School Age Children: A Quasi‐Experimental Study

Children's early years food environment can influence dietary habits. We evaluated Yes to Veg! a 4-week nursery-based programme on pre-school children's vegetable exposure, consumption and agency. A quasi-experimental study in 11 nurseries (6 intervention/5 controls) located in socio-economically deprived areas of Glasgow, Scotland. Yes to Veg! delivered locally grown fresh vegetables once-per-week for children's daily nursery activities. Control nurseries received standard healthy eating recommendations. Parental pre- and post-questionnaires measured child vegetable exposure (vegetables tried from a 27-item list), consumption frequency (1 = once-per-week to 5 = everyday) and variety consumed (0 = none/1 = 1-4/2 = 5-9/3 = 10+ kinds). Qualitative comments reported by parents, nursery staff and from researcher observations were extracted for qualitative themes. From 257 parent-child dyads recruited, 57 (n = 34 intervention/n = 23 control, child mean age 51 months) completed both questionnaires. Vegetables tried [Mean(SD)] did not change between intervention [total score pre 16.7(4.5) vs 16.8(5.6) post, difference 0.19(0.6), p = 0.765] and control group [total score pre 16.4(5.3) vs 16.0(5.6) post, difference -0.39(0.57), p = 0.503]. Median pre- and post-consumption frequency in both groups was 4 (most days); the variety of vegetables consumed was higher in intervention (5-9 items) vs control (1-4 items) and these measurements didn't change between pre- and post. Vegetable agency increased in the intervention; parents said children talked more about vegetables at home (91% vs 65% control) and were willing to try vegetables at home (41% vs 34% control); emerging qualitative themes included children's engagement with vegetables, sensory interaction and programme acceptance. Yes to Veg! facilitated exposure, engagement and familiarisation to vegetables, was well implemented and received, but did not change consumption.