Nutrition Education in Preschool: Preschool Children’s Atti-Tudes Toward Fresh Vegetables: Findings from the Fresh Food Explorers Observational Study

Background/Objectives: Childhood overweight and obesity are on the rise in the United States with one in five children reported to be obese. This can lead to increased risk of di-et-related chronic diseases earlier in life. Reports conflict on whether fruit and vegetable programs are beneficial. The aim of this study was to look at the Real Food for Kids (RFFK) Fresh Food Explorers Program, a 8-week program that aimed at improving preschoolers' views of vegetables in different categories. Methods: Preschool students completed visual surveys at the beginning and end of the program, asking about their views of vegetables from different categories. Following the pre-survey, teachers were provided weekly kits over eight weeks containing videos, lesson plans, activity sheets, and detailed hands-on activities. Weekly lessons focused on specific vegetables, including tastings, to reinforce lesson concepts and build positive exposure. Children were sent home with produce bags to share with their families, allowing the les-sons and exposure to continue at home and helping to address food insecurity in house-holds. . Survey results were documented and analyzed to determine the impact. Results: A total of 177 preschoolers from 10 classrooms in the Washington DC area showed an increase in positive views on vegetables in all categories except for tomatoes, which remained the same. Conclusion: Our findings show that the Fresh Food Explorers program may improve veg-etable consumption and views among preschool children and show that knowledge and repeat exposure are essential.