Getting kids to eat veggies is all in the name
Sep 19, 2012, 7:10 AM | Updated: 7:10 am
PHOENIX — Parents try everything to get their kids to eat their vegetables.
A new survey said kids may eat healthier if there are cute names for what they’re eating.
Researchers at Cornell University decided to see if kindergarten through fifth graders in New York City would eat vegetables with goofy names.
The answer is yes.
“Things like Silly Dilly Green Beans, or Power Punch Broccoli,” said Professor David Just, adding that researchers applied the names at some schools, while others stuck to the regular names.
Kids went for the silly names more often.
“What we found was that there was a huge increase in the amount of vegetables that were taken and eaten when we put this little name tag next to it,” Just said.
“Calling it ‘X-Ray Vision Carrots’ is a simple way to say that this is good for your eyes, but do it in a way that a little kid can identify with. It sort of speaks their language.”
In the Valley, Higley Unified District nutritionist Marie Yilla loves the idea, and plans to use it.
“Maybe we’ll use school names and their school mascots to help promote eating vegetables and fruits as well,” she said.
Yilla said the renamed items will be on the school menu by November.
