University professor pioneers research on children eating fruits, vegetables

How do you get children to eat their vegetables?

Just ask Bonnie Braun, an associate professor at the university's School of Public Health.

As a member of the Food Stamp Nutrition Education program, Bonnie Braun and the Maryland Cooperative Extension - a statewide education system based out of the university's college of agriculture and natural resources and the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore - recently headed research at the university to answer this question.

"Two years ago, we decided that it was time to focus on what it takes for people to not only learn about nutritious foods, but also to consume it," Braun said.

So began Project FRESH (Fruits and Veggies Raise Energy for School Health), an elementary school-based nutrition education program that exposes children to fruits and vegetables around school in hopes the students' diets improve. The studies began in Baltimore City schools, then expanded to Frederick and recently to Prince George's counties' schools.

"The decision was made that we would work with 50 percent of students who were signed up for free or reduced lunch," Braun said. She added that free or reduced lunch-eligible students were targeted for the experiments because such financial status also makes them eligible for food stamps.

In the studies, Braun and her team supported previous research showing elementary school is the time children stop eating fruits and vegetables.

They also found that exposing children repeatedly to fruits and vegetables leads to their eventual consumption.

FRESH's research proves "yes, indeed, you can get children to eat fruits and vegetables, but you have to let them try them first," Braun said.

She and her team allowed children to taste and "purchase" fruits and vegetables at simulation farmer's markets at their schools. They were given "exotic" foods to taste, such as eggplant, as well as mundane foods, such as apples.

"We were thinking, 'Doesn't everyone like [apples]?' Apparently one child had never had one," Braun said.

This occurrence was a representative example of the lack of exposure to fruits and vegetables some students had.

"Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, or exercise or any other healthy behavior, is a very difficult task," said Stephanie Grutzmacher, a Maryland Cooperative Extension family specialist.

According to Braun's findings, schools are facing financial crunches due to the rise in food costs over the past two years and cannot always offer healthy options.

"Eggs, milk, fruits and vegetables - especially fresh ones - are affected," she said.

Braun and her team of researchers and educators believe nutrition and family science came together to make this happen, and they may expand their research once they get final results from Prince George's County next month.

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