Go Wild with Fruits and Veggies: Engaging Children in Nutrition Education and Physical Activity with Animal Characters

Authors

Sara J. Van Ofelen, University of Minnesota Extension Regional OfficeFollow
Mary M. Schroeder, University of Minnesota Extension Regional CenterFollow
DeeAnn R. Leines, University of Minnesota Extension Regional CenterFollow
Lori Roth-Yousey, University of Minnesota ExtensionFollow

Volume

49

Issue

2

DOI

10.34068/joe.49.02.21

Abstract

The Go Wild with Fruits and Veggies! curriculum incorporates wild animal characters to motivate 3rd-5th grade children to increase fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity. Positive findings from a rural setting regarding a self-reported increase in intake of vegetables (n=1,285) were verified by more intensive evaluation of vegetable intake in an urban setting (n=140) that compared treatment and control groups. No differences in changes in physical activity were noted between groups. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the curriculum based on the use of animal characters to role model positive behaviors and different evaluation methods to corroborate findings.

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Recommended Citation

Van Ofelen, S. J., Schroeder, M. M., Leines, D. R., & Roth-Yousey, L. (2011). Go Wild with Fruits and Veggies: Engaging Children in Nutrition Education and Physical Activity with Animal Characters. The Journal of Extension, 49(2), Article 21. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.49.02.21