March, 2023
Effects of Culinary Spices on Liking and Consumption of Protein Rich Foods in Older AdultsMSI Funded Study: Using Herbs and Spices to Increase Vegetable Intake Among Rural Adolescents
Fritts, J.R., Bermudez, M.A., Hargrove, R.L., Alla, L., Fort, C., Liang, Q., Cravener, T.L., Rolls, B.J., D'Adamo, C.R., Hayes, J.E. and Keller, K.L
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May, 2019 -- Researchers from The Pennsylvania State University conducted a cafeteria-based intervention to determine whether adding recipes incorporating spices and herbs to the school lunch line would increase vegetable intake. View the paper.
Overview
To test whether adding herbs and spices to school lunch vegetables increases selection and intake compared with lightly salted control versions among rural adolescents.
Methods
Design
This study compared intake of vegetables with herbs and spices with lightly salted controls (phase I) and tested whether 5 repeated exposures would increase students’ intake of herb and spice seasoned vegetables (phase II).
Participants and Setting
A total of 600–700 students at a rural middle/high school (age 11–18 years).
Intervention
In phase I, herbs and spices were added to 8 vegetables and outcomes were compared with 8 control recipes. In phase II, the impact of repeated exposure to herb and spice blends served on different vegetables was assessed.
Main Outcomes
Vegetable selection rates, weighed intake, and willingness to eat again.
Analysis
Two-way ANOVAs tested effects of condition (herbs and spices vs control; before vs after exposure) and age (middle vs high school) on selection and intake.
Results/Conclusions
In phase I, students ate more control than seasoned broccoli (P = .01), cauliflower (P = .006), and green beans (P = .01), and high schoolers generally consumed more seasoned vegetables than did middle schoolers (P < .03). In phase II, repeated exposure to herbs and spices increased reported willingness to eat again for seasoned broccoli (P = .003).
In a short-term intervention, herbs and spices did not produce robust increases in school lunch vegetable intake among rural adolescents, but limited repeat exposure may increase students’ willingness to consume these flavors. Additional work is needed to identify individual and school-level characteristics that affect students’ willingness to select and consume vegetables with herbs and spices.
Reference
Fritts, J.R., Bermudez, M.A., Hargrove, R.L., Alla, L., Fort, C., Liang, Q., Cravener, T.L., Rolls, B.J., D'Adamo, C.R., Hayes, J.E. and Keller, K.L., 2019. Using Herbs and Spices to Increase Vegetable Intake Among Rural Adolescents. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.