The Children and Social Welfare Meal Management Support Center, Deokjin‑gu, Jeonju (Director No Jeong‑ok, Professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU)) announced that it has successfully concluded the experiential education program 'Veggies Grow! Tasty Yum‑Yum!' aimed at fostering healthy eating habits and preventing picky eating among local children.

The program, carried out in three phases from April to September this year, took place at the Deokjin‑gu Children’s Food Experience Center, the JBNU Natural History Museum, and other registered local institutions. A total of 185 infants and young children participated, from ten local institutions (five for ages 1–2 and five for ages 3–5), receiving strong responses.

The training focused on "mushrooms," a commonly avoided ingredient among children. Based on the Food Bridge theory, it was designed to reduce aversion and increase familiarity by guiding children through step‑by‑step experiences of cultivating, observing, and cooking mushrooms themselves.

Key activities were diversely organized to enhance educational effectiveness, including: ▲ 'Growing and Observing Mushrooms' using mushroom substrate; ▲ learning about 'Nature and Insects' that support mushroom growth; ▲ exploratory activities using educational materials; and ▲ 'Sensory Experiences and Cooking Activities' using real mushrooms.

A childcare teacher who participated said, "The children felt a great sense of accomplishment by harvesting the mushrooms they grew themselves and sharing them with their families at home," adding, "Aversion to mushrooms has greatly decreased, and children who were previously very picky have begun to eat mushrooms. We appreciate the provision of such beneficial education tailored to the children's level."

Director No Jeong‑ok emphasized, "Food Bridge is an effective method of guiding eating habits by gradually adjusting the frequency and manner of exposure to ingredients to help children overcome picky eating on their own," and added, "We hope that the healthy eating habits learned at the center will continue at home, and ask families to communicate with their children by enjoying meals together using a variety of ingredients."

Meanwhile, the Children and Social Welfare Meal Management Support Center, Deokjin‑gu, Jeonju, operates with support from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the Jeollabuk Provincial Government, and the City of Jeonju under Article 21 of the Special Act on the Safety Management of Children's Dietary Life and Article 5 of the Act on Support for Meal Safety in Social Welfare Facilities for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities. The center provides systematic hygiene, safety, and nutrition management services to meal service sites that are not required to employ a dietitian, and leads efforts to improve meal service standards in the community.