Researchers tested a nutrition program called WISE in Head Start schools across Arkansas to see if it helped young children eat more fruits and vegetables. They compared it to regular nutrition classes and tracked what kids ate over two and a half years. The WISE program worked better than regular classes at getting kids to eat healthier foods, and it cost less money to run. Kids in the WISE program ate more fruits and vegetables, though their weight didn’t change much. This study shows that schools can help children develop better eating habits without spending extra money.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a special nutrition teaching program called WISE helped young children eat more fruits and vegetables compared to regular nutrition classes in Head Start programs
  • Who participated: Children ages 3-5 years old attending Head Start programs in Arkansas that participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, studied from September 2015 to April 2018
  • Key finding: Children in the WISE program showed better eating habits with higher fruit and vegetable intake scores compared to children in regular nutrition classes, while costing schools less money to run
  • What it means for you: If your child attends Head Start, a program like WISE could help them learn to enjoy fruits and vegetables more, and schools might save money doing it. However, this was one study in one state, so results may vary in other places

The Research Details

Researchers compared two groups of children in Head Start programs: one group received the WISE nutrition program, and the other received usual nutrition education (UNE). They measured what the children ate using a food survey and tracked their body weight. The study lasted about two and a half years, from fall 2015 through spring 2018. This type of study is called a ‘pre-post’ design, meaning researchers looked at children before and after the program to see what changed.

The WISE program focused on teaching children about smart eating choices, while the usual nutrition education followed standard teaching methods. Researchers tracked how much fruits and vegetables each group of children ate and compared the costs of running each program. They also looked at whether children’s weight changed, which is important because healthy eating should support healthy growth.

This research approach matters because it shows real-world results from actual schools rather than just laboratory tests. By comparing costs alongside health benefits, the study helps school leaders make smart decisions about which programs to use with limited budgets. Understanding both effectiveness and cost is crucial for schools trying to improve children’s nutrition without breaking their budgets.

This study has some strengths and some limitations to keep in mind. The researchers tracked children over a long period (2.5 years), which is good for seeing lasting changes. However, the study wasn’t randomized, meaning schools weren’t randomly assigned to programs, which could affect results. The study was conducted in Arkansas Head Start programs, so results may not apply exactly the same way in other states or types of schools. The researchers measured eating habits using a food survey, which relies on parents remembering what children ate, and this can sometimes be inaccurate.

What the Results Show

Children in the WISE program showed greater improvements in their fruit and vegetable intake compared to children in regular nutrition classes. The WISE program cost schools $2.16 per child per month to run, while regular nutrition education cost $3.52 per child per month—making WISE about 39% cheaper.

The WISE program was found to be both more effective at improving eating habits AND less expensive than regular nutrition education. For every one-unit increase in how much fruits and vegetables children ate, the WISE program cost only $0.26 per child. This means schools get better results while spending less money.

Interestingly, researchers found that children’s body weight didn’t show significant differences between the two groups during the study period. This is important to note because while eating more fruits and vegetables is healthy, weight changes take time and depend on many other factors beyond just what kids eat at school.

The study found that the WISE program remained cost-effective even when schools had to pay the full cost of implementation without outside funding. This suggests the program could be sustainable for schools to continue using long-term. The improvements in eating habits were measured using a detailed food survey that asked about children’s typical eating patterns, providing a reliable picture of dietary changes.

This research adds to growing evidence that targeted nutrition education programs can improve what young children eat. Previous studies have shown that teaching children about healthy foods works, but this study is valuable because it also measures the cost, which many earlier studies didn’t do. By showing that a better program can actually cost less, this research challenges the assumption that improving nutrition always requires more spending.

The study was conducted only in Arkansas Head Start programs, so results may not apply exactly the same way in other states or different types of schools. The study wasn’t randomized, meaning schools weren’t randomly chosen to receive each program, which could have affected the results. The researchers relied on parents to report what their children ate, and people’s memories about food aren’t always perfectly accurate. The study didn’t track children for a long time after the program ended, so we don’t know if the benefits lasted. Finally, the sample size wasn’t clearly reported in the abstract, making it harder to judge how confident we should be in the results.

The Bottom Line

If you work in early childhood education or school nutrition, the WISE program appears to be a promising option for teaching young children about healthy eating at a lower cost than traditional nutrition education. The evidence suggests moderate confidence in these findings for similar Head Start programs. Parents should encourage schools to consider evidence-based nutrition programs that focus on fruits and vegetables. However, this program should be combined with other healthy practices like physical activity and family involvement for best results.

School administrators and nutrition directors in Head Start and similar early childhood programs should pay attention to this research, as it offers a cost-effective way to improve children’s eating habits. Parents of young children in Head Start programs may want to ask their schools about nutrition programs like WISE. Policymakers deciding how to fund school nutrition programs should consider this evidence. This research is less relevant for families with older children or those not in Head Start programs, though the principles may apply more broadly.

Changes in children’s eating habits typically take several months to become noticeable. In this study, researchers tracked children over two and a half years to see lasting improvements. Parents and teachers should expect gradual changes rather than immediate results—it usually takes 3-6 months of consistent teaching before children show clear preference changes for fruits and vegetables.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your child’s daily fruit and vegetable servings using a simple counter in the app. Set a goal of 2-3 servings per day for young children and log what they eat at meals and snacks. This helps you see patterns and celebrate progress over weeks and months.
  • Use the app to get weekly ideas for fun ways to introduce new fruits and vegetables to your child. Try one new recipe or preparation method each week, and use the app to note which ones your child enjoys. Share successful ideas with your child’s school or daycare.
  • Review your child’s fruit and vegetable intake monthly in the app to see trends. Track not just quantity but also variety—aim to introduce different colors and types of produce. Use the app’s reminder feature to prompt you to offer fruits and vegetables at each meal and snack time.

This research describes findings from a specific nutrition program in Arkansas Head Start schools and should not be considered medical advice. Results may vary in different settings and populations. Parents and caregivers should consult with their child’s pediatrician or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to a child’s diet, especially if the child has food allergies, medical conditions, or developmental concerns. This study shows association and effectiveness but does not prove that the WISE program will work identically in all settings. School administrators should evaluate any nutrition program based on their specific community needs and resources.