TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceptions of Children, Parents, and Teachers Regarding Whole-Grain Foods, and Implications for a School-Based Intervention
AU - Burgess-Champoux, Teri
AU - Marquart, Len
AU - Vickers, Zata M
AU - Reicks, Marla M
PY - 2006/7/1
Y1 - 2006/7/1
N2 - Objective: To identify perceptions of whole-grain foods and factors influencing intake by children, parents, and teachers as the basis for increasing intake by children within a school-based intervention. Design: Focus group interviews with questions based on Social Cognitive Theory. Setting: After-school care programs in 4 elementary schools in a large metropolitan district in St. Paul, Minn. Participants: Seven, three and two focus group interviews with children (n = 40; grades K-6), parents (n = 18), and teachers (n = 11), respectively. Phenomenon of Interest: Child and adult factors influencing intake of whole-grain foods, with a tasting activity to stimulate discussion. Analysis: Qualitative data analysis procedures to generate common themes from encoded transcripts. Results: Adults and children were positive about sensory characteristics of whole-grain products. Knowledge of ways to identify these foods was limited. Taste preferences strongly influenced selection of bread and cereals. Children suggested that new school foods should look and taste good, be familiar, and be promoted through sampling, peer influence, and incentives. Adults suggested a gradual increase in whole-grain content of school meals. Implications for Research and Practice: Focus groups were useful in understanding perceptions regarding whole-grain foods and yielded valuable insight toward design of a school-based intervention.
AB - Objective: To identify perceptions of whole-grain foods and factors influencing intake by children, parents, and teachers as the basis for increasing intake by children within a school-based intervention. Design: Focus group interviews with questions based on Social Cognitive Theory. Setting: After-school care programs in 4 elementary schools in a large metropolitan district in St. Paul, Minn. Participants: Seven, three and two focus group interviews with children (n = 40; grades K-6), parents (n = 18), and teachers (n = 11), respectively. Phenomenon of Interest: Child and adult factors influencing intake of whole-grain foods, with a tasting activity to stimulate discussion. Analysis: Qualitative data analysis procedures to generate common themes from encoded transcripts. Results: Adults and children were positive about sensory characteristics of whole-grain products. Knowledge of ways to identify these foods was limited. Taste preferences strongly influenced selection of bread and cereals. Children suggested that new school foods should look and taste good, be familiar, and be promoted through sampling, peer influence, and incentives. Adults suggested a gradual increase in whole-grain content of school meals. Implications for Research and Practice: Focus groups were useful in understanding perceptions regarding whole-grain foods and yielded valuable insight toward design of a school-based intervention.
KW - children
KW - focus groups
KW - parents
KW - school-based intervention
KW - sensory
KW - teachers
KW - whole-grain foods
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jneb.2006.04.147
DO - 10.1016/j.jneb.2006.04.147
M3 - Article
C2 - 16785092
AN - SCOPUS:33745141240
VL - 38
SP - 230
EP - 237
JO - Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
JF - Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
SN - 1499-4046
IS - 4
ER -