Mediterranean Diet for Toddler Health
(MUNCHIES Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
Toddlerhood (ages 2-3) is a critical window when the gut microbiome is still developing and eating habits are being established. Yet, many Canadian toddlers eat diets high in sugar and salt, which may affect long-term health. This study will test whether a MED diet can improve dietary inflammation, gut health, and body composition in toddlers and whether a tailored nutrition education program for parents can help families maintain healthy eating patterns.
In this study, toddlers will be randomly assigned to a 3-week MED diet or their usual diet. Families in the MED diet group will receive free meal boxes for the 3 weeks, plus guidance from a nutrition researcher through a structured education program. The standard diet group will continue their regular diet with general nutrition advice. Researchers will collect dietary information, body composition assessments, and stool samples to measure gut microbiome composition and metabolites.
This first study of a controlled diet intervention in toddlers, combining behavioral support, high-quality food provision, and advanced gut microbiome analysis, will help understand how early diet shapes lifelong eating habits and health, guiding public health strategies and precision nutrition approaches to prevent chronic disease from early life.
Who Is on the Research Team?
Dr. Maryam Kebbe, PhD, CLC
Principal Investigator
University of New Brunswick
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
The MUNCHIES study is for toddlers aged 2-3 whose parents are over 19, can communicate in English, and agree to follow a Mediterranean diet for their child. Eligible toddlers must have been born full-term with normal birth weight and can be delivered naturally or via C-section. Parents should commit to a nutrition program and provide necessary measurements and samples.Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Toddlers are assigned to either a Mediterranean diet or their usual diet for 3 weeks. The MED diet group receives free meal boxes and nutrition education.
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for dietary adherence, gut microbiome changes, and body composition at 3 weeks and 3 months post-baseline.
Nutrition Education Program
Families participate in a tailored nutrition education program to promote adherence to the prescribed diets.
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Mediterranean Diet Nutrition Program
- Standard Diet Education Program
Trial Overview
This trial tests if a Mediterranean Diet improves toddler health compared to usual diets. Toddlers will either receive the special diet with meal boxes and education for parents or continue regular eating habits with basic nutrition advice. The impact on gut health, inflammation, body composition, and long-term dietary patterns will be studied.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Toddlers in this group will follow a Mediterranean-style diet for nine weeks. Families will receive Mediterranean diet foods for three weeks and take part in nine weekly sessions (one overview and eight follow-up sessions) focused on preparing toddler-appropriate Mediterranean meals. The sessions are designed to support consistency in feeding, track progress, and provide guidance on diet adherence. Measurements of toddler height, weight, body composition (BOD POD), stool samples, and questionnaires will be collected at baseline, 3 weeks, and 3 months post-baseline.
Toddlers in this group will continue their usual diets for nine weeks while families participate in nine weekly general nutrition education sessions. Measurements of toddler height, weight, body composition (BODPOD), stool samples, and questionnaires will occur at the same time points as the intervention group. Families in this group will receive a $100 honorarium.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of New Brunswick
Lead Sponsor
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