Children's Food Preferences Research Articles

What are the determinants of food security among regional and remote Western Australian children?

Objective:To explore how determinants of food security affect children in regional and remote Western Australia (WA), across food availability, access and utilisation dimensions. Methods:The Determinants of Food Security framework guided the thematic analysis (using NVivo 10) of semi‐structured interviews with 20 key informants. Results:Food availability factors included availability, price, promotion, quality, location of outlets and variety. Food access factors included social support, financial resources, transport to food outlets, distance to food outlets and mobility. Food utilisation factors included nutrition knowledge and skills, children's food preferences, storage facilities, preparation and cooking facilities and time to purchase food. Conclusions:Key food availability recommendations include increasing local food supply options. Food access recommendations include ensuring equitable formal social support and empowering informal support options. Food utilisation recommendations include prioritising food literacy programs focusing on quick, healthy food preparation and budgeting skills. Implications for public health:Policymakers should invest in local food supply options, equitable social support services and experiential food literacy programs. Practitioners should focus child/parent programs on improving attitude, knowledge and skills.

Do Child Eating Behaviors Moderate Relationships Between Food Parenting Practices and Child Food Preferences?

A majority of existing cross‐sectional studies examine the relationship between food parenting practices and child weight status, but this has been proposed not to be indicative of obesity risk, and therefore, food preferences may provide a better prediction of what a child may consume, and thus, obesity risk. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between food parenting practices and child fruit, vegetable, and high fat/sugar food preferences and how child eating behavior moderate those relationships. Parents (n=148) of children (3–7 years old) completed the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ), the Preschool Adapted Food Liking Scale (PALS), and the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ). Linear regressions were used to test the study purpose with race, ethnicity, and income as covariates. Child control of eating was negatively associated with a child's preference for fruit (B= −8.16, p=.02) and child involvement was positively related to child preference for vegetables (β = .18, p = .04). Child preference for high fat/sugar foods was positively associated with parental use of food to regulate child emotions (B=10.53, p<.01), food as a reward (B=7.21, p < .001), pressure (B=5.07, p = .04), and restriction of unhealthy food (B=5.82, p = .01), and negatively associated with healthy home environment (B=−5.79, p = .05), modeling (B= −7.67, p = .01), and teaching about nutrition (B = −7.51, p = .01). Interaction models revealed that child food responsiveness moderated the relationships between parental pressure (B=7.32, p=.01) and food as reward (B=5.24, p=.02) and child preference for high fat/sugar foods. Specifically, high child food responsiveness exacerbated the relationship between pressure to eat and food as a reward and child preference for high/fat sugar foods. This study provides evidence that the effect of food parenting practices may be dependent upon child eating behaviors.Support or Funding InformationThis project was funding by Illinois State University College of Applied Science and Technology University Research Grant.

Developmental Readiness, Caregiver and Child Feeding Behaviors, and Sensory Science as a Framework for Feeding Young Children

Encouraging the development of healthy eating habits early in life is considered to be the best pathway toward the prevention of diet-related chronic diseases. One goal of the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is to add children from birth to the age of 24 months to those included in the subsequent editions of the guidelines. Although a focus on early childhood is long overdue, the construction of these guidelines will require an integration of evidence from multiple disciplines including nutrition, child development, sensory science, and socioeconomic and environmental factors. This article briefly reviews the rapid trajectory of infant and toddler anatomical and social development as they relate to the acquisition of eating habits, sensory aspects that influence children's food acceptance, and how each of these influences children's food preference development. The effects of caregiver feeding strategies on children's food acceptance patterns, as well as the impact of cultural norms, are also examined. The article closes with identifying opportunities for research that could integrate nutrition and child development principles with individual differences in the sensory perception and could incorporate a focus on interactions within the caregiver-child dyad.

Practices and preferences: Exploring the relationships between food-related parenting practices and child food preferences for high fat and/or sugar foods, fruits, and vegetables

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between food-related parenting practices and child fruit, vegetable, and high fat/sugar food preferences. Parents (n = 148) of children (3–7 years old) completed the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ), the Preschool Adapted Food Liking Scale (PALS), and answered demographic questions. Separate linear regressions were conducted to test relationships between the different food categories on PALS (fruits, vegetables, and high fat/sugar foods) and each food-related parenting practice using race, ethnicity, and income level, and child age and gender as covariates. It was found that when a parent allows a child to control eating, it was negatively associated with a child's preference for fruit (β = −0.15, p = 0.032) and parent encouragement of child involvement in meal preparation was positively related to child preference for vegetables (β = 0.14, p = 0.048). Children preferred high fat and sugar foods more if parents used food to regulate child emotions (β = 0.24, p = 0.007), used food as a reward (β = 0.32, p < 0.001), pressured the child to eat more food (β = 0.16, p = 0.045), and restricted unhealthy food (β = 0.20, p = 0.024). Conversely, children preferred high fat and sugar foods less if parents made healthy food available in the home (β = −0.13, p = 0.05), modeled healthy eating in front of the child (β = −0.21, p = 0.021), and if parents explained why healthy foods should be consumed (β = −0.24, p = 0.011). Although it cannot be determined if the parent is influencing the child or vice versa, this study provides some evidence that coercive feeding practices are detrimental to a child's food preferences.

Factors Influencing the Food Purchases of Early Care and Education Providers

BackgroundWith the majority of US children enrolled in some form of early care and education, the settings for early care and education represent a valuable opportunity to positively impact young children’s diets and their interactions with food. Little evidence exists on how early care and education providers make food purchasing and service decisions for this population of young children. ObjectiveOur aim was to explore the factors that influence early care and education providers’ food purchasing and service decisions. DesignA qualitative design consisting of individual, in-person, and semi-structured interviews with providers and on-site observations was used. Participants/settingSixteen early care and education providers—selected across a variety of characteristics that might affect food selection (eg, size of site, participation in reimbursement programs, presence of staff assigned to foodservice) using maximum variation purposive sampling—based in the Puget Sound region, Washington, were interviewed from June to September 2014. Main outcome measureProvider perspectives on food purchasing and service decisions. Statistical analyses performedInductive analysis of transcribed interviews using TAMS Analyzer software (GPL version 2, 2012) to identify themes. ResultsTen main influencers emerged from the data. These were grouped into four categories based on an ecological framework: macro-level environments (ie, regulations; suppliers and vendors, including stores); physical environment and settings (ie, organizational mission, budget, and structure; the facility itself); social environments (ie, professional networks; peers; the site-specific parent and child community); and individual factors at both a provider and child-level (ie, providers’ skills, behaviors, motivations, attitudes, knowledge, and values; child food preferences; and, child allergies). A model was then developed to identify potential pathways of intervention and underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to improve early care and education nutrition. ConclusionsThis study suggests that a more system-based understanding and approach—one that accounts for an array of influencers and their interactions—is necessary to take advantage of opportunities and address barriers to improving early care and education-based nutrition.

Using photo interviews to explore children's food preferences

This methodological paper elaborates on the pitfalls and potentials for using participatory photo interviews that explore children's experiences with food. It aims to show how participatory photo interviews can give a deeper understanding of children's food preferences. Such knowledge will be useful to other researchers who wish to apply the method in social studies involving children and food. We studied 12 families comprising seven- and eight-year-old children and their parents to illustrate how this method can be used to identify and understand children's food preferences. The children took photographs over a one-week period while eating family dinners at home and grocery shopping with their parents. The photos were then used to elicit information during separate in-depth interviews. The Qualitative data analysis software (NVivo 10) was used to content analyse the data. We found that participant photo interviews were a useful method for helping children to remember and describe the sensory, cognitive and affective situational associations of their meals. This approach helped to explore interesting aspects of children's preferences such as their response to raw vegetables, the importance of controlling and choosing meal ingredients and ambivalent food preferences. We discuss parental involvement during data collection as it represents one of the methodological pitfalls. Another limitation is the risk of sensitive information to be breached. We conclude that participatory photo interviews have potential for future food research involving children and may provide information difficult to elicit using other methods. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Culture and Diet Among Chinese American Children Aged 9–13 Years: A Qualitative Study

ObjectiveTo examine Chinese American children's behaviors, food preferences, and cultural influences on their diet. DesignQualitative individual interviews using constructs from the proposed model of dietary acculturation. SettingCommunity centers and Chinese schools in Houston, TX. ParticipantsTwenty-five Chinese American children aged 9–13 years. Phenomenon of InterestDiet, favorite restaurants, and parents' cooking and grocery shopping habits. AnalysisContent analysis and thematic data analysis to identify code categories and themes. Coders also identified patterns based on demographic and acculturation factors. ResultsOverall, participants described their diets and associated behaviors as Asian and non-Asian. Key themes included preference for Asian and non-Asian foods; consumption of non-Asian foods for breakfast and lunch, but Asian foods for dinner; infrequent dining at restaurants; grocery shopping at Asian and non-Asian stores; and familial influences on diet. Acculturated children and children of higher socioeconomic status appeared to prefer and consume a more Westernized/non-Asian diet. Conclusions and ImplicationsResults illustrate that Chinese American children in this study practiced both Asian and non-Asian dietary behaviors. Findings corroborated existing acculturation research with parents and caregivers; supported constructs in the model of dietary acculturation; and provide guidance for research and programs related to dietary behaviors, determinants, and culture among this population.

Infant Dietary Exposures to Sweetness and Fattiness Increase during the First Year of Life and Are Associated with Feeding Practices

Background: Taste is a strong determinant of food intake. Previous research has suggested that early taste exposures could influence preferences and later eating behavior, but little is known about the factors related to this.Objectives: The aims of this study were to describe infants’ exposure to sweetness and fattiness and to examine whether maternal and infant characteristics and feeding practices are related to these exposures in participants from the OPALINE [Observatoire des Préférences Alimentaires du Nourrisson et de l’Enfant (Observatory of Infant and Child Food Preferences)] cohort study.Methods: Food consumption frequency was assessed with a 7-d food record completed monthly over the first year. Dietary taste exposure was defined by the consumption frequency of each food multiplied by the intensity of its taste, summed over all foods. The daily sweetness exposure (SweetExp) and fattiness exposure (FatExp) were calculated at 3–6, 7–9, and 10–12 mo of age for 268 infants from complementary feeding initiation (CFI) to 12 mo. Associations between taste exposure and potential factors were tested by multiple linear regressions.Results: Both FatExp and SweetExp increased from 3–6 mo to 10–12 mo (mean ± SD: 7.5 ± 2.3 to 12.2 ± 2.5 and 6.8 ± 2.8 to 14.7 ± 4.1, respectively). Breastfeeding duration ≥6 mo was associated with higher SweetExp at all ages, with a decreasing β [β (95% CI): 2.6 (1.8; 3.4) at 3–6 mo and 1.3 (0.1; 2.4) at 10–12 mo]. CFI at <6 mo was associated with higher SweetExp at all ages but with higher FatExp only at 3–6 mo. Higher SweetExp and FatExp were associated with a higher use of all complementary food types. Boys were more likely to be exposed to SweetExp at 10–12 mo and to FatExp at 3–6 mo and 10–12 mo than were girls. Maternal higher education attainment and return to work after 6 mo were linked with higher FatExp and higher FatExp and SweetExp, respectively.Conclusion: SweetExp and FatExp increased from CFI until 12 mo and were associated with feeding practices in OPALINE infants. Studying early taste exposure longitudinally should provide new insights regarding the development of food preferences.

The Influence of Brand Equity Characters on Children's Food Preferences and Choices

To assess the influence of brand equity characters displayed on food packaging on children's food preferences and choices, 2 studies were conducted. Brand equity characters are developed specifically to represent a particular brand or product. Despite existing literature suggesting that promotional characters influence children's food choices, to date, no research has assessed the influence of brand equity characters specifically. We recruited 209 children 4-8 years of age from schools and childcare centers in the UK. In a mixed-measures design, the children were asked to rate their taste preferences and preferred snack choice for 3 matched food pairs, presented either with or without a brand equity character displayed on packaging. Study 1 addressed congruent food-character associations and study 2 addressed incongruent associations. Participants were also asked to rate their recognition and liking of characters used. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and χ(2) analyses were used where appropriate. Children were significantly more likely to show a preference for foods with a brand equity character displayed on the packaging compared with a matched food without a brand equity character, for both congruent and incongruent food-character associations. The presence of a brand equity character also significantly influenced the children's within-pair preferences, within-pair choices, and overall snack choice (congruent associations only). Displaying brand equity characters promotes unhealthy food choices in children. The findings are consistent with those of studies exploring other types of promotional characters. In the context of a childhood obesity epidemic, the use of brand equity characters in the promotion of foods high in fat, salt, and sugar to children should be restricted.

Strategies Low-Income Parents Use to Overcome Their Children's Food Refusal.

Introduction Parents play a key role in the development of eating habits in preschool children, as they are the food "gatekeepers." Repeated exposure to new foods can improve child food preferences and consumption. The objective of this study was to determine parent feeding strategies used to influence child acceptance of previously rejected foods (PRF). Methods We conducted eighteen focus groups (total participants=111) with low-income African American and Hispanic parents of preschool children (3- to 5-year-olds) in Texas, Colorado, and Washington. Through thematic analysis, we coded transcripts and analyzed coded quotes to develop dominant emergent themes related to strategies used to overcome children's food refusal. Results We found three major themes in the data: parents most often do not serve PRF; parents value their child eating over liking a food; and parents rarely use the same feeding strategy more than once for a PRF. Desiring to reduce waste and save time, parents said they most often intentionally decided not to purchase or serve PRF to their children. Discussion Because parents' primary goal in child feeding is getting children to eat (over acceptance of a variety of foods), strategies to help parents promote consumption of less easily accepted foods could help parents with child feeding struggles and improve children's dietary quality.

A Qualitative Investigation of Parents' Perspectives About Feeding Practices With Siblings Among Racially/Ethnically and Socioeconomically Diverse Households

ObjectiveLittle is known about parent feeding practices with siblings. Because this is a new area of research, qualitative research is needed to understand parents' perspectives about how they make decisions about feeding siblings and whether they adapt their feeding practices dependent on sibling characteristics such as weight status. The main objective of the current study was to describe parent feeding practices with siblings. DesignQualitative cross-sectional study with 88 parents with at least 2 siblings. SettingParents were interviewed in their homes in Minneapolis/St Paul Minnesota. ParticipantsParents were from racially/ethnically diverse (64% African American) and low-income households (77% earned < $35,000/y). Main Outcome MeasureParents' perceptions of feeding practices with siblings. AnalysisQualitative interviews were coded using a hybrid deductive and inductive content analysis approach. ResultsParents indicated that they used child food preferences, in-the-moment decisions, and planned meals when deciding how to feed siblings. Additionally, the majority of parents indicated that they managed picky eating by making 1 meal or giving some flexibility/leeway to siblings about having other food options. Furthermore, parents endorsed using different feeding practices (eg, food restriction, portion control, pressure-to-eat, opportunities for healthful eating) with siblings dependent on child weight status or age/developmental stage. Conclusions and ImplicationsFindings from the current study may inform future research regarding how to measure parent feeding practices with siblings in the home environment and the development of interventions tailored for families with multiple children in the home. Future quantitative research is needed to confirm these qualitative findings.

Factors associated with overweight among elementary schoolchildren in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

ABSTRACT Objective To assess overweight/obesity of elementary schoolchildren in Campinas , São Paulo , Brazil, and its association with parental nutritional status, children's food consumption, food preferences, and level of physical activity, and familial socioeconomic status. Methods This case-control study included 509 schoolchildren aged 7 to 10 years. Body mass index Z-score was used to determine nutritional status, defining cases (&gt;+1 Z-score) and controls (³-2 ?+1 Z-score). To address association with overweight/obesity, a conceptual model was established and used for multiple analysis, performed by logistic regression. Results The children had an overweight/obesity frequency of 39.5%. Multiple analysis adjusted for socioeconomic level showed that overweight/obese children were more likely to eat at the mall (1.55; 95%CI=1.00-2.40), have overweight and obese parents (OR=1.71; 95%CI=1.08-2.71 and OR=3.55; 95%CI=2.18-5.80 respectively), report use of passive school transport (OR=1.57; 95%CI=1.04-2.36), and consume chicken nuggets on 3 or more days per week (OR=3.03; 95%CI=1.32-6.95). Conclusion These results support the urgent need of strategies to reduce overweight/obesity and promote its prevention in schoolchildren. Moreover, intervention studies involving parents and addressing environmental factors are important for the development of effective programs.

Strategies for Effective Eating Development—SEEDS: Design of an Obesity Prevention Program to Promote Healthy Food Preferences and Eating Self-Regulation in Children From Low-Income Families

ObjectiveTo develop a scientifically based childhood obesity prevention program supporting child eating self-regulation and taste preferences. This article describes the research methods for the Strategies for Effective Eating Development program. A logic model is provided that depicts a visual presentation of the activities that will be used to guide the development of the prevention program. DesignRandomized, controlled prevention program, pretest, posttest, 6 months, and 12 months. SettingTwo sites: Houston, TX and Pasco, WA. Each trial will last 7 weeks with 8–10 mother–child dyads in each arm (prevention and control). ParticipantsRecruitment at Head Start districts (Texas; n = 160) and Inspire Child Development Center including Early Childhood Education and Head Start (Washington; n = 160). Sixteen trials with 16–20 parent–child dyads per trial will provide adequate power to detect moderate effects. InterventionMulticomponent family-based prevention program incorporating a dialogue approach to adult learning and self-determination theory. Main Outcome MeasuresChild assessments will include observed taste preferences, caloric compensation, and eating in the absence of hunger. Parent assessments will include parent-reported feeding, feeding emotions, acculturation, child eating behaviors, child food preferences, and child dietary intake. Heights and weights will be measured for parent and child. AnalysisA multilevel growth modeling analysis will be employed to consider the nested nature of the data: time points (level 1) within families (level 2) within trials (level 3).

Associations between appetitive traits and food preferences in preschool children

BackgroundThe ways in which children eat, their appetitive traits, are associated with their food intakes and weight status yet it is unclear whether they also relate to food preferences. MethodsA cross-sectional self-report survey administered in two Australian cities. Food preferences were grouped according to the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and a summary measure of healthiness, the Healthy Preference Index, was constructed. Bi-variate and multiple linear analyses examined relationships between each of the CEBQ dimensions and between the CEBQ dimensions and children’s food preferences (P<0.05). ResultsIn total, 371 parents of children aged 2–5years (response rate 53.5%) participated. The models explained approximately 32% of the variance in children’s Healthy Preference Index scores and 42% of the variance in preferences for vegetables. CEBQ dimensions Fussiness, Enjoyment of Food and Food Responsiveness were significant predictors of several of the food preference measures in linear regression analyses. Fussiness predicted all of the measures of food preferences, explaining a large proportion of the variance in such measures (ranging from 23% to 59%). Enjoyment of Food predicted greater liking of Vegetables and Meats as well as a higher Variety Index score. Food Responsiveness was associated with greater preferences for non-core Extra Foods, and reduced preferences for Vegetables. None of the other CEBQ dimensions meaningfully associated with children’s food preferences. ConclusionsOf the eight CEBQ subscales, children’s Fussiness, Enjoyment of Food and Food Responsiveness predicted food preferences. Some, but not all, of the CEBQ subscales appear to be meaningful predictors of children’s food preferences.

Barriers, facilitators, and strategies to support healthy eating among recent Hispanic immigrants mothers living in a food swamp: a Photovoice project

ObjectiveFollowing the social‐ecological framework, we aimed to identify barriers and facilitators that Hispanic primary caregivers living in a “food swamp” experience when providing foods for their children, and their strategies to overcome those barriers. “Food swamp” is a term referring to low‐income areas with high concentrations of food stores, including convenience stores and fast‐food outlets.MethodsUsing a purposive sampling design, we identified 15 Hispanic mothers of young children (&lt; 10 years old) living in a neighborhood characterized as a “food swamp” in the metropolitan area of Washington DC. Semi‐structured, in‐depth interview guides were used to ask mothers to describe: (a) their typical day, (b) whether they were able to feed their children the foods they would like to, and (c) what made it easier or harder for them to provide the foods they would like to provide for their children. Mothers were also asked to take pictures of those factors. A community organizer led a participatory workshop to display all the pictures, each with a descriptive title and paragraph crafted by the mothers. The workshop sought to identify common barriers and their strategies to overcome them. Interviews from all sessions were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed systematically using a codebook that followed broad categories of the social‐ecological framework (ATLAS.ti version 5).ResultsMothers were immigrants (&lt;15 years in US) mostly El Salvador and Guatemala. The divide between children's food preferences and parent's rules and preferences around eating emerged as a common barrier. For example, mothers wanted to feed their children typical foods based on soups, rice, and tortillas from their home country, while the children preferred to eat foods that mothers perceived were common to the receiving country (pizza, fries, fried chicken). Mothers perceived that foods and drinks served at school were of low nutritional value and were concerned that this exposure reinforced preferences for these foods in their children. Eating at fast‐food restaurants as a family was common only when the monthly budget allowed. The high price for some meats, fruits, and vegetables was a common barrier cited, but mothers’ reported that their ability to manage the family budget and to find less expensive alternatives to these items enabled them to feed their children how they wanted throughout the month. WIC food vouchers also allowed mothers to purchase fruits and vegetables that they otherwise would not have been able to afford. The advice of health professionals (doctors, dentists, nutritionists) emerged as a key factor in deciding what to feed their children. Strategies identified in the workshop included: education on how to incorporate local fruits and vegetables (perceived as less expensive than imported ones), parent involvement in the school lunch options.ConclusionThe mothers were strict gatekeepers of their children's diets, following health professionals’ advice and using budgeting strategies throughout the month to cope, regardless of what was available in the environment surrounding their homes. Exposure to foods perceived as unhealthy in the school was seen as a major barrier to feeding their children what they preferred.Support or Funding InformationGW Center for Civic Engagement, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health).

Shaping our Kids’ Diets: Home and Neighborhood

ObjectiveFollowing the social‐ecological framework, we aimed to characterize barriers and facilitators that primary caregivers living in a food desert experience when providing foods for their children, and strategies to overcome those barriers.MethodsUsing a purposive sampling design, we identified 15 primary caregivers of young children (&lt; 10 years old) who live in Ward 7, a food desert in Washington DC. Semi‐structured, in‐depth interview guides were used to ask primary caregivers about a typical day, whether they agreed with the statement that they are feeding their children the foods that they would like to feed them, and what made it easier or harder for them to provide the foods they want to provide for the children. A participatory workshop with all respondents sought to identify common barriers and strategies to overcome those barriers. Interviews from all sessions were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed systematically following the social ecological framework (ATLAS.ti version 5).ResultsWe interviewed five mothers and ten grandparents. Common factors that acted as barriers or facilitators included health concerns of the primary caregiver that shape what was available at home to eat; monetary and time budgeting for food acquisition and preparation; child's food preferences and requests on foods; perceptions that kids waste foods if they are not fed what they desire; perception that kids’ appetite is not satisfied by what is offered at school or at home. The support of or conflict with family and friends can either mitigate or exacerbate challenges faced by kids’ preferences and health concerns. At the community level, respondents valued resources provided by organized groups (i.e. food giveaways, church lunches, dinners, and other programs offered by non‐governmental organizations). Results provide some evidence that the themes typically associated with a food desert emerged only among respondents who had access to a car (or to a friends’ or relative's car). For example, these respondents described how distance to supermarkets, external appearance of stores, and internal appearance of products, influenced place and frequency of shopping, and limited the types of foods they would have preferred to offer to their children. Among those who did not have good access to transportation, these themes did not emerge, and their barriers and facilitators related more to money and time budgeting, home and family conflicts, and availability of community resources. Participants expressed the desire to gain more knowledge about nutrition and diet, resources available in the community, and budgeting skills. A small group of respondents was interested in organizing to demand that the one supermarket in the neighborhood provided better food products.ConclusionBarriers and facilitators at the individual level are exacerbated or mitigated by family, social, and neighborhood characteristics. Our results suggest that perceived barriers and identified strategies were influenced by the respondents’ ability to compare and contrast their community environment to other neighborhoods.Support or Funding InformationHoney W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service

PROP taster status, food preferences and consumption of high-calorie snacks and sweet beverages among 6-year-old ethnically diverse children.

A healthy diet is important for optimal growth and development in children. Food preferences are a main determinant of children's intake. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) taster status (taste sensitivity to PROP) with children's food preferences and consumption of high-calorie snacks and sweet beverages among ethnically diverse children. We analysed data from 5585 6-year-old children enrolled in the Generation R Study, a birth cohort study in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. PROP taster status was evaluated using a suprathreshold screening solution. Food preferences of the children were assessed by a two-stage protocol using photographs of eight food items (candy, chocolate, mayonnaise, whipped cream, soup, potato chips, carrot and bread), yielding both hedonic ratings (1-3) and rank order scores (1-8). Univariate and multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were performed, using tasters as the reference group. Non-tasters had a slightly higher preference for carrots (β: -0.07; 95% CI: -0.13, -0.02 and β: -0.15; 95% CI: -0.27, -0.02 for hedonic ratings and rank order scores, respectively) and bread (hedonic ratings; β: -0.06; 95% CI: -0.11, -0.01) compared with tasters. No differences were found in children's preference for sweet, fat or salty food items. Furthermore, there were no associations of PROP taster status with the consumption of high-calorie snacks ≥ 2 times/day (aOR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.91,1.24) or sweet beverages ≥ 3 glasses/day (aOR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.92,1.23). Other factors relating to the family food environment may be more important for young children's food preferences and consumption of high-calorie snacks and sweet beverages than their innate taste sensitivity.

Parental feeding practices, food neophobia, and child food preferences: What combination of factors results in children eating a variety of foods?

Our aim was to describe food neophobia, parenting feeding practices, and concordance in food preferences between parent–child dyads using a cross-sectional on-line survey completed by parents of preschoolers (3–5y). Respondents (n=210) included mothers (89%) who were predominantly white (85%) and college educated (64%). Most children (mean age=41.7 mo±14.9), were perceived to be of a healthy weight (81%) and “good eaters” (60%). Parent (21.9±7.4) and child food neophobia (30.4±8.8) correlated significantly, though modestly (r=0.14, p=0.04). The parent practice of offering new foods to eat was inversely associated with child food neophobia (r=−0.40, p<.0001) and pressure to eat (r=−0.13, p=0.07). Parent–child dyads had >75% concordance in preferences for whole grains, fruit, starchy vegetables, and dairy. Lowest concordance (39–66%) was noted for sweetened beverages and entrees. Discordance occurred when parents had never offered their children a food (e.g., vegetables), and was uninfluenced by demographic factors. A child’s food neophobia and overweight status was associated with the child having a lower consumption of vegetables. Parent reports of giving the child more control of food-related decisions was associated with a higher number of healthy foods rated as liked by a child. Similarities in parent–child food preferences may be related to food neophobia and, consequently, the foods parents offer their children. Educating parents on the potential impact of feeding practices may be important for early intervention efforts to improve children’s food acceptance.

Acceptance and satisfaction of parents and students about a school-based dietary intervention in Isfahan, 2012-2013.

Objective:Snacks play an important role in child health and nutritional status. Schools are considered as the preferred place to encourage healthy eating among children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of buffet school-based intervention on acceptance and satisfaction of parents and students in Iran.Materials and Methods:Primary school students (n = 1120, 68.83% girls) from first to third grade, with one of their parents, participated in this prospective field trial study conducted in Isfahan, Iran. The study was consisted of three phases; schools selection, kitchen selection, implementation including two different parts, getting order and distribution. We provided hot snacks as traditional and healthy fast food according to taste and food preferences of children. Acceptance and satisfaction of parents and students were evaluated via a researcher made questionnaire before and after the intervention in one-third of participants as a representative sample of students who ordered the snacks.Results:Most of the students usually ate snack in the break-time at school, the eagerness of provided snacks was 98.8% and 63.6% in girls and boys, respectively. The most interesting tastes were Ashe Reshteh and Tahchin, (45.1% girls vs. 36.8% boys), while bean (among girls) and Ashe Jo (among boys) were ranked as the lowest. More than half of parents (66.7%) evaluated the price of snacks as “acceptable,” showing their satisfaction.Conclusion:Results of this study indicate that school-based interventions accompanied with parental and principals’ support is considered as a practical approach to promote healthful eating at an early age. Developing effective interventions for youth might, therefore, help to prevent unhealthy dietary choices becoming habitual.

Pediatrician and Parent Opinion on Nutrition in Infants Under 3 Years: Results of Pilot Survey Conducted in Central Federal District of the Russian Federation

Background: Rational nutrition management in infants under 3 years is an important part of their adequate development at this age and in future. Objective: Our aim was to evaluate awareness of pediatricians and parents concerning rational nutrition management in infants under 3 years. Methods : 300 pediatricians and 300 parents of infants under 3 years who live in Moscow, Ivanovo, and Yaroslavl were enrolled in pilot survey. Results: Pediatricians' recommendations on child nutrition management satisfied the majority of parents (252; 84%), however, less than half of families (135; 45%) followed them. In other cases the child's ration depended on mother's opinion on the matter (96; 32%) and on child's food preference. «Unhealthy» food such as groceries and provision, processed food, spices, seafood, fast food, chocolate, candies, and sweets as well as soda was included in child's ration at the age of 2 and its consumption frequency increased significantly at the age of 3. Pediatricians strongly recommended special dairy for infants from the age of 1 (known as the 3rd formula). In fact, only half of children in Moscow eat them, and 27–30% of children in Ivanovo and Yaroslavl. Conclusion: Harmful breach of nutrition management in infants under 3 years is detected. Evidently, parents are not competent on the question. Optimization of educational activities performed by pediatricians, medical stuff, and mass media is required.