Aim
This project evaluated if storybooks help to teach children to eat more vegetables and fruit.
Objectives
To raise awareness, skill and confidence of parents/carers and children to promote and implement messages relating to the importance of healthy nutrition, especially the importance of increasing vegetable and fruit intake through an interactive, educational storybook.
To enhance children’s recognition and perceived sensory enjoyment of different fruit and vegetables thus increasing their willingness to try and to increase the acceptability of these foods.
To enhance the community’s accessibility to a nutrition resource which promotes physical health and wellbeing, and develops literacy skills for 3-5 year olds and their parents.
Summary
'I’m having a rainbow for dinner’ storytime sessions were developed, implemented and evaluated, based on the storybook. The work was completed in the AEDI Caboolture community which has a higher proportion of children who are developmentally vulnerable for physical health and wellbeing compared to the rest of Queensland. It was also the area in which the storybook was initially developed so strong links had been developed with local organisations and community members. Within 3 months, 14 storytime sessions were held through local libraries, community organisations and contacts. Each session, delivered by an NAQ nutritionist, was 30-45 minutes in length, depending on the involvement of children and their parents/carers in the discussions and questioning. A total of 389 families received a free copy of the book to take home and the remaining 500 books were provided to local communities and libraries for further dissemination.