Developing Novel Methods to Teach Children to Recognize Internal Signals of Hunger

An evidence-based curriculum for teaching preschool children to eat in response to internal hunger and fullness signals was developed by refining an existing curriculum. State-of-the art theories in early childhood science education, innovative virtual technology to provide more realistic simulations of hunger and fullness, and a parent training component to improve long-range sustainability were incorporated. This 9-wk intervention will be tested by forty children (ages 4-5). Key outcomes will be children's adjustment in intake in response to a first course (energy compensation) and children's intake of tasty snacks when not hungry (eating in the absence of hunger). Additionally, the investigators will measure other variables likely to impact the success of the curriculum, for example: child gender/age, parent feeding practices, parent education, infant feeding practices, child/parent weight status, and others.