Table 4 Child learning interviews

Cooking camp experience

Children enjoyed cooking, trying new foods, and cooking with friends.

Enjoyed being in the kitchen

Nutrition topics

Most children correctly named the 5 major food groups (fruit, vegetables, protein, starch/grains, dairy).

Children correctly identified pasta, breads, and rice as grains. They noted whole grains as being healthy. They did not mention starchy vegetables or corn as nutritionally similar to grains.

Most correctly identified milk, cheese, and yogurt as dairy, with several incorrectly identifying soup, bread, cake, and eggs.

Children correctly identified meats as proteins, also noting nuts, protein shakes, and protein bars.

Children named a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

Balanced plate

Children recognize the healthy nature of the balanced plate and the role of the different foods in health.

Most believed the balanced plate is for daily use.

When tasked with filling in a blank balanced plate, not all of the details were correct but many children understood concepts.

Almost all children included dairy on the balanced plate despite dairy not being emphasized in cooking class.

Breakfast

“Gets you ready for the day” was the most popular response for breakfast was important.

Children mostly identified traditional breakfast foods as being healthy, with most correctly identifying fruits as the healthiest breakfast, but many noting eggs as well.

Snacks

Fruit was the most common food children ate for snacks, followed by crackers and chips.

Children understood the importance of snacks, noting their value in providing “fuel” in between meals.

Fruit was by far considered the healthiest snack, followed by vegetables. Many children also named combinations of peanut butter with various fruits.

Chips were most commonly identified as an unhealthy snack, followed by sweets and “greasy” foods.

Beverages

Almost all children identified water as a healthy drink. Orange juice and milk were also considered healthy. A few children identified diet soda as healthy.

Most children identified sugar as the ingredient causing a drink to be unhealthy. Others noted “chemicals,” “sodium,” and “calories.”

Soda was the most common unhealthy drink named.

Foods to choose more often

Many children advocated for the importance of combining food groups from the balanced plate to create a healthy meal.

Healthy food most commonly meant “being good for your body.” Many children also believed that the number of calories was an important factor.

New foods

14 out of 15 children claimed they try new foods. New foods they tried included Brussel sprouts, spinach, asparagus, pasta, and bruschetta; all of which were ingredients in our recipes.

Children who enjoyed trying new foods explained that doing so can provide new healthy food options, keeping them from getting tired of the old ones.

Children ranged from feeling “confident” to “nervous” about trying new foods.