Applying learning theory to improve liking and intake of vegetables in children.

Abstract

Establishing liking and intake of vegetables early in life facilitates later healthy eating and may reduce risk of obesity. Short-term liking for the taste of vegetables can be improved in children through flavour consequence learning (FCL), whereby degree of liking for specific vegetables is associated with degree of post-ingestive consequence. To investigate FCL on vegetable preference and liking, 33 pre-schoolers were recruited from, and tested in, nurseries in St Andrews and Leeds. Rank preference and liking (intake) of vegetables (carrot, pepper, celery) and smoothie drink (SD) were assessed pre and post intervention. Children received 8–10 exposures (intervention) to their moderately preferred (target) vegetable via a SD (100 g). Eating behaviour profile was measured. The novel vegetable SD was accepted over 8–10 consecutive occasions. Inter-individual variation in consumption was present: SD intake negatively correlated with food fussiness. Exposure to a moderately preferred vegetable SD did not increase target vegetable intake. Evaluative conditioning did not generalise to other vegetables; intake of vegetables remained stable. The most effective means to increase pure vegetable intake is not through FCL. Data on acceptance of the vegetable SD suggest that repeated exposure may be sufficient to increase acceptance of vegetables in some children. Food fussiness is a barrier to acceptance of new tastes, and may compromise healthy eating and later health outcomes.