Cartoon characters may convince kids to eat veggies

​New York : Convincing kids to choose vegetables become easier when you deploy a team of animated characters to sell them the nutritious foods, new research has claimed. 'Miki Mushroom', 'Zach Zucchini' and 'Suzie Sweet Pea' appear to wield the kind of influence many parents only wish they had, researchers said.

Marketing vegetables in school lunchrooms using the Super Sprowtz - a team of fun-loving characters with super powers - as much as tripled the percentage of elementary school students choosing items from the salad bar, found researchers led by Andrew Hanks of The Ohio State University in the US.

If we put the time and good resources into marketing healthy choices to kids, it can work," said Hanks, an assistant professor of human sciences. "These interventions don't need to be costly and there is a great opportunity to improve nutrition, performance in school and behaviour as well," Hanks said, referring to previous studies that have linked healthful diets to success in the classroom.

Marketing to children is controversial in some circles, but Hanks said this study illuminates its potential if done well and with the best interest of kids in mind. "Marketing can have both positive and negative effects. But instead of avoiding it completely, we can harness the power of marketing to help us," said Hanks.