VEGETABLE AND FIBER INTAKE IN INFANTS AND TODDLERS IN THE UNITED STATES IS MUCH LOWER THAN RECOMMENDED. RESEARCH HASSHOWN THAT CAREGIVERS CAN INCREASE THEIR CHILDREN'S ACCEPTANCE OF VEGETABLES BY REPEATEDLY OFFERING THEM OVER TIME; HOWEVER,CAREGIVERS TEND TO DISCONTINUE OFFERING VEGETABLES BEFORE THEIR INFANTS AND TODDLERS HAVE LEARNED TO ACCEPT THEM. THE GOAL OF THIS INTEGRATED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION PROJECT IS TO EXPLORE AND UNDERSTAND BARRIERS THAT PREVENT CAREGIVERS FROM CONTINUING TO OFFER HEALTHY FOODS TO THEIR CHILDREN. IN ORDER TO ENSURE SOCIOECONOMIC, ETHNIC, AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN OUR SAMPLE, WE WILL RECRUIT FROM OUR UNIVERSITY, AS WELL AS THROUGH EXTENSION AND LOCAL WIC OFFICES. THE RESULTS OF THIS RESEARCH WILL BE USED TO DEVELOP A NUTRITION EDUCATION MODULE FOR CAREGIVERS THAT ADDRESSES INFORMATION ON THE BENEFITS OF REPEATED EXPOSURE TO VEGETABLES FOR INFANTS/TODDLERS, AS WELL AS THE COMMONLY REPORTED STRUGGLES WITH THIS PROCESS AND STRATEGIES CAREGIVERS CAN USE TO OVERCOME THEM. WE WILL ENGAGE AN ADVISORY GROUP OF CAREGIVERS, WIC DIRECTORS/EDUCATORS, AND PURDUE EXTENSION EDUCATORS THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT TO ENSURE CULTURAL APPROPRIATENESS OF STUDY MATERIALS AND THE EDUCATION MODULE. UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS WILL ALSO BE ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT AND WILL GAIN EXPERIENCE IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NUTRITION EDUCATION MATERIALS FOR PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN. THE PROJECT'S LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO HELP CAREGIVERS EFFECTIVELY FEED THEIR INFANTS AND TODDLERS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT HEALTHY EATING PATTERNS, GROWTH, AND DEVELOPMENT DURING THIS PERIOD AND INTO LATER LIFE.