Culinary Kits for Kids: The Impact of a Hands-On Cooking Curriculum on the Fruit and Vegetable Intake of Food-Insecure Children in South Texas

A pilot study in 2024 was used to research the impact and subsequent efficacy of the Culinary Kits for Kids (CKK) program. However, due to the sample size, the vast age range of study participants, and challenges with formatting the Fruit and Vegetable Intake (FVI) survey, the actual impact of the CKK program remains uncertain. According to Warren et al. (2003), children under eight years of age demonstrate difficulties recalling food consumption within twenty-four hours. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the impact, if applicable, of the CKK program on the fruit and vegetable intake of 75 food-insecure children between the ages of eight and 15 residing in Nueces County, TX, while also examining their parental or guardian feelings and beliefs about the impact of the CKK program on their child(ren), as well as their perceptions of individual fruit and vegetable intake following participation in the program. Data collection methods will include the implementation of the FVI survey before and after the intervention, as well as the Parental Satisfaction Survey (PSS). FVI survey responses will be analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 30.0.1.0, using a non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test. PSS responses will be evaluated using a narrative analysis to evaluate specific recurring key points.