TY - JOUR
T1 - Toddlers' food preferences. The impact of novel food exposure, maternal preferences and food neophobia
AU - Howard, Anika
AU - Mallan, Kimberley
AU - Byrne, Rebecca
AU - Magarey, Anthea
AU - Daniels, Lynne
PY - 2012/12
Y1 - 2012/12
N2 - Food preferences have been identified as a key determinant of children's food acceptance and consumption. The aim of this study was to identify factors that influence children's liking for fruits, vegetables and non-core foods. Participants were Australian mothers (median age at delivery = 31. years, 18-46. years) and their two-year-old children (M=24 months, SD = 1 month; 52% female) allocated to the control group (N=245) of the NOURISH RCT. The effects of repeated exposure to new foods, maternal food preferences and child food neophobia on toddlers' liking of vegetables, fruits and non-core foods and the proportion never tried were examined via hierarchical regression models; adjusting for key maternal (age, BMI, education) and child covariates (birth weight Z-score, gender), duration of breastfeeding and age of introduction to solids. Maternal preferences corresponded with child preferences. Food neophobia among toddlers was associated with liking fewer vegetables and fruits, and trying fewer vegetables. Number of repeated exposures to new food was not significantly associated with food liking at this age. Results highlight the need to: (i) encourage parents to offer a wide range of foods, regardless of their own food preferences, and (ii) provide parents with guidance on managing food neophobia.
AB - Food preferences have been identified as a key determinant of children's food acceptance and consumption. The aim of this study was to identify factors that influence children's liking for fruits, vegetables and non-core foods. Participants were Australian mothers (median age at delivery = 31. years, 18-46. years) and their two-year-old children (M=24 months, SD = 1 month; 52% female) allocated to the control group (N=245) of the NOURISH RCT. The effects of repeated exposure to new foods, maternal food preferences and child food neophobia on toddlers' liking of vegetables, fruits and non-core foods and the proportion never tried were examined via hierarchical regression models; adjusting for key maternal (age, BMI, education) and child covariates (birth weight Z-score, gender), duration of breastfeeding and age of introduction to solids. Maternal preferences corresponded with child preferences. Food neophobia among toddlers was associated with liking fewer vegetables and fruits, and trying fewer vegetables. Number of repeated exposures to new food was not significantly associated with food liking at this age. Results highlight the need to: (i) encourage parents to offer a wide range of foods, regardless of their own food preferences, and (ii) provide parents with guidance on managing food neophobia.
KW - Childhood obesity
KW - Food neophobia
KW - Food preferences
KW - Repeated exposure
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84866172774&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.appet.2012.08.022
DO - 10.1016/j.appet.2012.08.022
M3 - Article
VL - 59
SP - 818
EP - 825
JO - Appetite
JF - Appetite
SN - 0195-6663
IS - 3
ER -