Tiny Tastes in Gemini - a postal intervention to increase vegetable acceptance in pre-school twins

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
The study aims to test whether the ‘Tiny Tastes’ intervention is associated with increased liking for, and consumption of, the target vegetable after 14 daily tastings in a home setting, and to evaluate the acceptability of the mailed version of ‘Tiny Tastes’ as a stand-alone intervention in a home setting.

Who can participate?
Participants are families with pre-school twins who are taking part in the Gemini study.

What does the study involve?
All families in the Gemini study will be sent a questionnaire which will include information about the Tiny Tastes intervention. Parents will have the opportunity to ‘opt-in’ to the study by ticking a box at the end of the questionnaire booklet. Families who have responded positively to the invitation by March 2011 will be randomly allocated to either the intervention or the control group. Parents in both groups will be sent an information sheet, test instructions and a study plan. They will be asked to select a vegetable that both of their twins dislike and then to carry out three taste tests with each twin (two pre-tests and one post-test). The tests will each be completed 15 days apart. Parents will be sent clear instructions on how to conduct the tests and will receive a study diary to help them remember the study schedule. The outcome measures of the tests will be the child’s’ intake (number of pieces) of the target vegetable and the child’s liking (maternal rating) of the test food. The intervention group will also receive a sealed envelope containing an information letter and a Tiny Tastes pack, with instructions to open this after they have completed pre-test test 2. The Tiny Tastes pack will explain how to complete 15 days of tiny tastes with each twin, including information on the importance of repeated exposure, techniques of exposure feeding with repeated tiny tastes, the need for patience and persistence, and parenting techniques and suggestions for praise. Parents will also be directed to a website where they can view a video demonstrating the Tiny Tastes procedures. Participants in the control group will receive no additional intervention materials in the first instance. They will complete the three tests 15 days apart with no change to normal feeding habits in the intervening period. Control group families will be sent the ‘Tiny Tastes’ materials and information following completion of the third test. The remaining families in the Gemini study will also be sent the ‘Tiny Tastes’ materials to maintain consistency of treatment across the whole sample.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
We do not expect any risks for participants completing this study.

Where is the study run from?
University College London (UK).

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
It started in March 2011 and will be completed by December 2012.

Who is funding the study?
Cancer Research UK.

Who is the main contact?
Professor Jane Wardle
j.wardle@ucl.ac.uk

Contact information

Study information

Eligibility

Locations

Countries of recruitment

• United Kingdom
• England

Study participating centre

Results and Publications

Study outputs