FOOD EDUCATION IN SCHOOL: EFFECTS OF NEOPHOBIA, HEALTHINESS, SENSORIAL ACCEPTANCE AND PURCHASE OF ESCAROLE PRODUCTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36557/2674-9432.2026v5n4p67-88Keywords:
Product development, Educational interventions, InfancyAbstract
Food neophobia in childhood can hinder vegetable consumption and compromise healthier choices. In this sense, school interventions can be considered promising strategies to increase acceptance and intention to purchase foods containing vegetables. The objective of the research was to evaluate the effect of educational activities on children's level of neophobia towards vegetables, as well as their perception of healthiness and sensory aspects and purchase of food products containing escarole. A total of 260 children participated, organized into four groups: G1, control; G2, theoretical and practical educational activities; G3, cooking workshops; and G4, school garden. The actions reduced the degree of neophobia and increased the perception of healthiness, acceptability, and purchase intention for G3 and G4. G2 also showed a positive, albeit modest, effect on these parameters for bread after the intervention. Educational activities carried out at school are effective in reducing neophobia towards vegetables, especially when cooking workshops and vegetable gardens are used. In addition, they increase the perception of healthiness, acceptance, and purchase intention. Theoretical-practical educational activities also promote beneficial effects, but to a lesser extent.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Letícia Malherbi Byczkovski, Caroline Franco Paiva, Julia de Arruda Melo, João Lucas Mota Nogueira da Costa, Elisvânia Freitas dos Santos, Daiana Novello
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