Beyond repeated exposure: Encouraging children to try unfamiliar foods

• In Event: Expanding research on child food acceptance to include individual differences, innovative interventions, and under-represented populations

Abstract

Introduction:
There is a wealth of research demonstrating that repeated exposure increases children’s willingness to eat unfamiliar foods. Nevertheless, if children are unwilling to try unfamiliar foods, this approach is not viable. In this talk I will highlight alternative approaches for encouraging children to try unfamiliar foods. These approaches include presenting new foods along with familiar cues (Study 1), providing visual exposure to novel foods (Study 2), and the possibility of using computer-based games to train children to approach new foods (Study 3).

Method:
In Study 1, we investigated how sensory cues interact to affect children’s willingness to try foods. We presented 79 children between 3-6 years of age with eight samples of a cream-based soup (corn chowder). Samples differed in color (yellow or green), texture (blended corn or corn kernels), and odor (no added odor or green vegetable odor). We measured children’s willingness to try each of the samples.
In Study 2, 59 children between 4-8 years of age either read children’s books about healthful foods, were fed a variety of fruits and vegetables, or were not exposed to food or books during an 8-day home exposure phase. After the home exposure, children’s willingness to consume unfamiliar fruits and vegetables was measured.
In Study 3, a game-like task was used to assess food neophobia in 7-10 year old children. Visual stimuli were presented on a computer screen and children were asked to use a joystick “to pull the food toward them” if they wanted to try the food or “push it away” if they did not want to try the food. To simulate the action, the food on the screen either got bigger or smaller, respectively. To validate this task, we also measure children’s food neophobia and their willingness to try novel foods.

Results:
In Study 1, children were more likely to try samples that were yellow and did not have a green vegetable odor. However, when presented with the green soup-base that smelled like green vegetables, they were more likely to try the soup when it contained corn kernels than when it did not have this familiar cue.
In Study 2, when children read books about healthy foods over the course of a week, they were more likely to try a novel food relative to children who were not exposed to books or food.
In Study 3, children’s responses in the approach/avoidance task were associated with their neophobia scores as well as their willingness to try novel foods. Future work will assess whether children who are trained to approach novel foods using this approach/avoidance task will be more likely to try these foods.

Discussion:
These studies provide insight into approaches that may encourage children to try and learn to like new foods. While providing visual exposure and familiar cues may work best for younger children, older children may respond better to computer-based games. More research is needed to determine if these approaches, when integrated into children’s daily lives, will increase their acceptance of a variety of healthful foods.

Authors

• Catherine A Forestell, William & Mary
  Presenting Author

• Repairer Etuk, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  Non-Presenting Author

• Elizabeth Gallary, William & Mary
  Non-Presenting Author

• Christina Marlow, William & Mary
  Non-Presenting Author