Repeated taste exposure increases preferences for vegetables in elementary school aged children

Abstract

Children's food preferences play a major role in their food choices and consumption. This study aimed to increase children's preferences for fruit and vegetables by offering repeated opportunities to taste less liked vegetables. A total of 370 fourth and fifth grade students (44% boys; 61% fourth graders) attending low‐income, public elementary schools in southeastern Louisiana volunteered to participate. Once a week for 10 weeks children were given a taste of carrots, peas, tomatoes and bell peppers, and then asked to record their preference for each vegetable using a Likert‐type response scale. The percent of children that tasted all 10 times was 26% for carrots, 20.3% for peas, 19% for tomatoes, and 18.5% for bell peppers. Repeated measures ANOVAs indicated that repeated tasting improved preferences for all four vegetables: carrots (p<0.01); peas (p<0.01); tomatoes (p<0.01); bell peppers (p<0.05). A minimum of 6 tastings were needed to observe a change in preference score. At the end of 10 opportunities to taste, the percentage of children who had tasted at least 6 times was 74% for carrots, 70% for peas, 63% for tomatoes, and 60% for bell peppers. Repeated taste exposure is a promising strategy for promoting liking of less liked vegetables in children. This project was funded by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation, and the LSU AgCenter.Grant Funding SourceBaton Rouge Area Foundation adn Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana