Learning to like vegetables: the importance of exposurein the food preference development of preschool children
Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Despite a 5-a-day recommendation many children do not consume sufficient fruits and \nvegetables, with vegetable intake particularly low. Children’s strong dislike for vegetables \nis a barrier to intake (Nicklaus, Boggio, Chabanet & Issanchou, 2005; Zeinstra, Koelen, \nKok, & de Graaf, 2007) indicating a need to develop strategies that will help children to \ndevelop the necessary preferences. Research has suggested that increasing children’s \nfamiliarity with vegetables through repeated experience is crucial in enhancing \npreferences. The current thesis used quantitative and qualitative methods to explore \nchildren’s earliest experiences with vegetables in order to identify critical periods and \nfactors that impact upon liking and intake. Using experimental methods it then examined \nthe effectiveness of strategies currently being employed by parents to promote \nvegetables in young children. \nThe data presented confirms that familiarising children with a variety of vegetables via \nrepeated taste exposure is fundamental in increasing children’s preference for and intake \nof novel vegetables. Results suggest that the effects of experience are mediated by age, \nsupporting the idea of a ‘sensitive period’ during which children are more receptive to \nnew tastes. The onset of food neophobia in the preschool years appears to limit the \neffects of repeated exposure but significant increases in consumption are observed. A \ntheoretical model of children’s vegetable intake contributes to understanding of food \npreference development and highlights a need to focus interventions on children who \nmight be more resistant to the effects of exposure.
Author: Sara Ahern
Language: English
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1554656702