Experiential learning activities improve children's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards healthy eating¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · quant-synthesis r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2021 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Across 25 included RCTs and CRCTs, experiential learning interventions improved nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in children aged 0–12 years. → Varman Sumantla D. 2021

Evidence¶

Varman Sumantla D. 2021¶

Varman Sumantla D., Cliff Dylan P., Jones Rachel A., Hammersley Megan L., Zhang Zhiguang, Charlton Karen, Kelly Bridget. (2021). Experiential Learning Interventions and Healthy Eating Outcomes in Children: A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010824

q3 · i? · quant-synthesis · r2

Systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42018103629) of 25 RCTs/CRCTs in children 0–12 years, with Cohen's d calculated per outcome. The review concludes that "Experiential learning activities are a useful strategy to improve children’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards healthy eating." No pooled effect size is reported.

"Experiential learning activities are a useful strategy to improve children’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards healthy eating."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Cooking, taste-testing, games, role-playing, and gardening had the greatest effects on nutrition outcomes in primary school children
• Successful interventions combined multiple experiential strategies, involved parents, used theory, and were shorter but more intense
• Evidence for effective experiential learning approaches is weaker for preschool children than for primary school children
• School gardening showed large effects on knowledge, preferences, and consumption of fruits and vegetables in primary school children — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Taste-testing showed large effects on behavioral outcomes but was usually combined with other experiential strategies — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Sensory evaluation, games, storybooks, role-modelling, and creative art activities tended to have large effects on food behaviours and attitudes in preschool children — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Experiential learning approaches (school/community gardens, cooking, food preparation) produce the largest effects on reducing food consumption and energy intake in primary school children — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Experiential learning approaches are a particularly strong strategy for improving primary school children's nutritional knowledge (Md = 1.35) — a narrower finding that bears on this claim