Increasing Trout Consumption in Young Children and Families for Cognitive and Mental Health Benefit

Summary

Regular fish consumption may support brain health. Trout lines developed in Idaho contain higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients important for human cognition and mental wellbeing. Developed to support aquaculture sustainability, consumer preferences and human health benefits of these fish are unknown. The long-term goal of this project is to utilize nutrition education strategies to increase adult and child consumption of fish to improve brain health as measured by cognitive and emotional wellbeing. Research objectives and activities include, (1) adult and child consumer panels to provide sensory evaluation on three strains of trout, (2) effects of repeated exposure (RE) and child-centered nutrition phrases (CCNP) on eating behaviors and brain health will be determined using one control and two treatment groups of children in childcare settings, (3) effects of nutrition education, incorporating CCNP and fish preparation techniques, and RE targeting family meals on eating behaviors of children and brain health of adults and children will be determined using four treatment groups in the home setting.

Description

Eligibility

Age range

3+ years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Interventions

• Other
  Trout

  rainbow trout

• Other
  Child-centered nutrition phrases

  learn the phrase, "trout helps your brain so you can learn and play" either through researcher introduction or completing the "About Trout! Pond to Plate" curriculum

• Other
  Puzzle

  presented with a puzzle to solve each week

Locations (2)