Vegetables in the Diets of Preschool Children

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Abstract
Records of the food of 42 preschool children show that they are eating a little more than two servings of vegetables per day in addition to potatoes. The variety has increased during the past twenty years to include most of the common vegetables. An individual dietary study of six preschool children, with analysis of the food, showed that they receive 6 oz. of vegetables per day. This was one-seventh of the total weight of food as served and furnished about 10 per cent of the total energy and 17 per cent of the total iron. The total solids of mixed vegetables are rich in minerals. It is important with preschool children to develop an appetite for vegetables so that an increasing quantity will be desired as the child grows. Feeding unfamiliar vegetables to 33 children certainly showed no refusal of new things introduced into the environment but rather the interest that young children have in new things and the strong appeal made by foods served in pieces of attractive shape. Repeated observations of 28 children showed that with the possible exception of strong-juiced vegetables, young children like vegetables to which they have become accustomed, especially if they are crisp in texture.

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