EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF A NEW SENSORY-BASED LABORATORY APPROACH TO ENHANCE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES IN CHILDREN. A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Aim A case‐control study to test the efficacy of an innovative pedagogic approach (using a 5‐sense lab) aimed to improve pupils’ nutritional choices through the stimulation of a more conscious knowledge of foods. Methods The educational programme Edueat® was used in 3 third‐year classes of a primary school (age: 8.2–9.0 years), with 3 more same‐grade classes used as control group (total recruitment: 119 children). Fourteen theoretical/practical lessons were given to each “case” class during 5 months, with children tested with a food choice questionnaire at t0, after 2 (t1) months, and after 5 (t2) months. A “healthy total score” was determined for all “healthy choice” answers (vegetables, fruits, fish) and confronted across time and groups using the ANOVA analysis. Results 72/119 valid questionnaires: 39 (54.2%, 17M+22F) from the intervention group, 33 (45.8%, 13M+20F) from the control group. Mean total score (intervention vs. control) was: 41.1 ± 2.0 vs. 41.9 ± 2.2 at t0, 43.6 ± 2.1 vs. 43.8 ± 2.3 at t1, 45.9 ± 2.0 vs. 42.6 ± 2.2 at t2. Difference t0:t2 was statistically significant (p = 0.035), thus stressing the importance of the time effect (p = 0.009) and of the interaction time – treatment. Conclusions The pedagogic approach via method Edueat® was successful in prompting healthy food choices after 5 months of training.