Evaluating a Mindful Eating Curriculum, “Savor the Flavor”

Overview

The overall goal of this study is to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility and efficacy of the "Savor the Flavor" intervention.

Full Title of Study: “Evaluating a Mindful Eating Curriculum, “Savor the Flavor” to Promote Healthy Eating Among Head Start Preschool Children”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: N/A
    • Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Prevention
    • Masking: None (Open Label)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: December 31, 2019

Detailed Description

The overall goal of this study is to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility and efficacy of the "Savor the Flavor" intervention. The goal of this curriculum is to teach children how to savor foods and slow down while eating by focusing on the sensory experience of eating. The intervention will also teach children attention control techniques so that they are better able to delay consumption of high energy, low nutrition foods, when appropriate.The study will also evaluate a modified version of the Eating in the Absence of Hunger task for use in a preschool classroom setting.

Interventions

  • Behavioral: Savor the Flavor
    • A series of five interactive classroom lessons focused on mindfulness in eating.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Experimental: Savor the Flavor
    • The “Savor the Flavor” curriculum is a series of five interactive lessons designed to teach children how to savor foods and slow down while eating by focusing on the sensory experience of eating. The intervention also teaches attention control techniques so that children are better able to delay consumption of high energy, low nutrition foods, when appropriate, as well as general mindfulness practices (e.g. breathing exercises). Lessons are delivered in the Head Start classroom by a nutrition educator.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Change in eating in the absence of hunger from pre to post intervention
    • Time Frame: Pre intervention and at conclusion of 5 week intervention
    • Children will be given seven minutes of free access to a variety of palatable snacks and toys during a time when they are not hungry (e.g. after a meal). Intake of snacks is determined by pre and post weighing the foods.

Secondary Measures

  • Recall of Savor the Flavor steps
    • Time Frame: At conclusion of 5 week intervention
    • Children will be asked to recall the five steps of “Savor the Flavor”
  • Acceptability of intervention
    • Time Frame: At conclusion of 5 week intervention
    • Teachers will complete a questionnaire with scaled and open-ended questions about the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Child Inclusion Criteria:

  • Child must be enrolled in a Head Start preschool center – Child must be between the ages of 2 and 6 years old Child Exclusion Criteria:

  • Food allergy or restriction to foods included in protocol Parent Inclusion Criteria:

  • Parent or other primary caregiver of a child enrolled in the study – 18 years of age or older – English speaking Parent Exclusion Criteria:

  • None Teacher Inclusion Criteria:

  • Actively employed as an early childhood education provider in the Head Start classroom where intervention is delivered – 18 years of age or older Teacher Exclusion Criteria:

  • None

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 2 Years

Maximum Age: N/A

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Penn State University
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Principal Investigator: Jennifer Savage Williams, Associate Professor – Penn State University
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Jennifer S Savage, PhD, Principal Investigator, Penn State University

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