Abstract
Objective
Increase trout consumption among young children and families and assess the effects of trout intake on cognitive and emotional well-being.
Description
Research objectives include (1) adult and child consumer panels assessing sensory properties and liking of 3 trout strains; (2) effects of repeated exposure (RE) and child-centered nutrition phrases (CCNP) on children’s eating behaviors and brain health; and (3) effects of nutrition education incorporating CCNP, fish preparation, and RE on eating behaviors and brain health in the home setting. Extension objectives include the development and dissemination of “About Trout! Pond to Plate,” a 12-lesson video-based nutrition education series. Education objectives include experiential learning opportunities in curriculum development, evaluation, data collection, and analysis.
Evaluation
Adults (n = 102) evaluated 3 trout strains (commercial, CX, and LCX) for overall liking, paired preference, and fish consumption habits. No differences in overall acceptance were identified among strains (P ≥ 0.05). Commercial trout was rated fishier than CX (P = 0.02) and LCX (P = 0.01). Adults who typically consumed raw fish had lower acceptance of cooked trout (P = 0.006), whereas those unsure how to prepare fish at home reported higher liking scores (P = 0.02). Children aged 4–6 years (n = 91) participated in the RE study. At baseline, trout liking (just okay or yummy) was reported by 75% of the control group, 76% of the RE group, and 59% of the RE + CCNP group. At final tasting, liking was reported by 72%, 88%, and 85% of groups, respectively, representing changes of −3%, 12%, and 26%. Additional analyses will be completed in summer 2026, with home-setting data collection beginning in the summer of 2026. Revisions to “About Trout! Pond to Plate” content are complete, design work is underway, and curriculum implementation is anticipated in the summer of 2026. Three PhD students and one undergraduate intern contributed to the project through dissertation research and data collection activities.
Conclusions and Implications
Findings provide foundational evidence supporting strategies to increase fish acceptance and consumption among adults and children to promote cognitive and mental health.