NCT07358390

Potatoes as a Strategy to Improve Diet Quality in Young Children

• Status: Enrolling By Invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 200 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Penn State University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 2 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine whether incorporating potatoes into meals-either paired with other vegetables or served as a first course-can improve preschoolers' vegetable intake, reduce excess energy intake, and improve overall diet quality. Findings will be used to inform whether potatoes, a well-liked and commonly consumed vegetable, could be leveraged in several ways to improve the overall diet quality of children.

Detailed description

The overall object of this study is to test potato-based strategies to improve diet quality in preschool age children. The specific aims are: Aim 1: Determine if pairing potatoes with other less-preferred vegetables increases liking and intake of the non-potato vegetables. Aim 2: Determine if potato-based dishes can be used strategically to reduce intake of more energy-dense entrees. The effect of potato-based dishes on vegetable intake and total energy intake will be tested across four lunch-time sessions in preschool classrooms. Each lunch session will be randomly assigned to one of the potato dish conditions.

Conditions

• Dietary Intake

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Potato + vegetable	A mixed dish of potatoes and other vegetables will be served at lunch
OTHER	Potato appetizer	A potato dish will be served as an appetizer at lunch prior to the main course
OTHER	Potato and vegetable separate	A potato dish and a vegetable dish will be served separately at lunch
OTHER	No potato	No potato dish will be served at lunch

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-03-01
• Primary completion: 2026-12-01
• Completion: 2026-12-01
• First posted: 2026-01-22
• Last updated: 2026-04-02

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States