Abstract
Children develop food preferences by coming into direct contact with various food products through the senses of taste, touch, sight and smell. The aim of this study was to analyze the food preferences of children aged 4 to 6 years and to determine whether age and gender influence children’s food preferences and whether the preference for sweet taste changes with age. The study involved a paper questionnaire containing images of 115 different food products and dishes. The respondents expressed their preferences by choosing the appropriate emoji (happy, sad or neutral face). The study was conducted between 2018 and 2020, and it involved 684 children from 10 kindergartens. Girls chose a significantly higher number of foods and dishes they liked than boys (p = 0.002), and 4-year-olds gave a higher number of “neutral” responses than 5- and 6-year-olds (p = 0.001). Dietary diversity increased with age, and younger children were familiar with fewer foods than 6-year-olds (p = 0.002). Children had a clear preference for sweet taste, regardless of age and gender. Young children (4-year-olds) were more likely to accept healthy foods despite the fact that they were familiar with fewer products and dishes.
Highlights
Life exposures may contribute to the risk of obesity [2,3,4]; the eating habits of young children are recognized as a topic of great social and public health interest [5,6]
Regardless of age and gender, the surveyed children had a clear preference for sweet taste, which disproves the hypothesis that older children are more likely to select sweet-tasting foods than younger children
This observation could be useful in shaping healthy dietary habits and preferences in this age group
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Childhood is a period of rapid growth and development. In this critical phase, food preferences are formed and carried into childhood and beyond, and foundations are laid for a healthy adult life [1]. Life exposures may contribute to the risk of obesity [2,3,4]; the eating habits of young children are recognized as a topic of great social and public health interest [5,6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
