This surprisingly creative trick helps children eat more fruit and veg

Fairy tales that feature magical fruit and vegetables seem to encourage children to make healthy food choices – with just 20 minutes of storytelling enough to see a difference.

With childhood obesity on the rise, Werner Sommer at the Humboldt University of Berlin and his colleagues wondered if storytelling could encourage healthier eating choices. Children’s food preferences have previously been linked to their family environment, while fairy tale-like narratives have been shown to shape childhood behaviour, suggesting this might be possible.