Vegetables as First Foods for Babies: Results from a Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

Many children do not meet vegetable intake recommendations. However, starting complementary feeding (CF) with vegetables only may improve child vegetable consumption. The aim was to examine whether exposure to a vegetables-only diet during the first 4 weeks of CF increases later vegetable acceptance, compared with a control group including fruit and vegetables. In this randomised controlled trial, 108 Auckland infants received either vegetables only (Veg-only, n = 56) or a combination of fruit and vegetables (control, n = 52) for a duration of four weeks at home, starting from the first day of CF; plain cooked meat, fish and/or poultry purée could also be offered to meet iron requirements. At 9 months of age all infants were offered two target vegetables (broccoli, spinach) and a fruit (pear), and the primary outcome measure was intake (grams) of target vegetables. Vegetable liking, rate of acceptance/eating and daily consumption of vegetables/fruit were additional measures. Independent t-test or Mann–Whitney tests were used to compare group differences. Veg-only infants ate significantly more of the target vegetables than controls: median (25th, 75th percentile) broccoli was 47 (27, 72) vs. 30.0 (16, 62) grams, p = 0.024, respectively; spinach was 37 (19, 55) vs. 24 (12, 41) grams, p = 0.028, respectively. Veg-only infants accepted and ate vegetables at a greater rate; daily vegetable intake was also higher (Veg-only 86 (53, 146) grams vs. controls (68 (38, 101) grams, p = 0.042). Fruit intake and other acceptance variables were similar. Providing vegetables as first foods increased vegetable intake at 9 months of age, and may be a simple strategy to help parents improve their child’s vegetable consumption.