Examining middle school children's willingness to consume energy‐dense foods and sweetened beverages (808.16)

It is important to understand children’s willingness to consume foods and beverages because preferences impact behavior change. This study examined children’s willingness to eat energy‐dense foods, energy‐dilute foods, sweetened beverages and unsweetened beverages. 312 children attending 4‐H summer camp were recruited to participate. 307 provided their gender and grade and 305 provided their race/ethnicity. Children were in the following grades: 4 th , n = 71 (23.1%), 5 th , n = 130 (42.3%), and 6 th , n = 106, and 184 were female (59.9%). 251 children (82.3%) were white, 41 were black (13.4%), 13 were from other racial groups. Surveys were distributed by one trained investigator using a standard protocol. Student willingness data gathered from a 7‐point Likert‐type scale were collapsed into three categories: 1 = unwilling, 2 = neither unwilling nor willing and 3 = willing. Race/ethnicity was categorized as white or non‐white. Mean scores were compared using the Welch’s F test. Males were more willing than females ( F = 4.846; p = 0.03) and white children were more willing than non‐white ( F = 4.489; p = 0.04) to consume energy‐dense foods. Differences in willingness to consume items in other food/beverage groups were not observed. This study provides valuable insight into food preference patterns, and therefore eating behaviors, of children for the purpose of future nutrition interventions.