Get Your Child to Eat Her Vegetables – The Scientific Way!
August 7, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Get Your Child to Eat Her Vegetables – The Scientific Way!
As many parents can attest, getting a child to eat their vegetables — particularly the green ones — is a tough task. However, parents may now have another weapon in the battle of getting their kids to eat their vegetables — and perhaps even like them.
Two fresh studies conducted by the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) and the John Dyson Professor of Consumer were conducted through support from Birds Eye in an effort to inspire young kids to eat more vegetables.
In the first study, which included 500 moms and their young children, researchers found that veggies on the plate made the meal appear more complete and enhanced the taste (perceived) of the entree.
The second study found that parents may give up too soon if their child claims to not like vegetables. That is, 83 percent of the kids in the study could name a favorite vegetable. 32 percent of the children listed “corn” as their favorite vegetable, followed by 29 percent who named broccoli as their favorite. Carrots, green beans, potatoes, and tomatoes rounded out the list.
“These findings underscore the concept that vegetables make the meal,” said SNEB president Brian Wansink, PhD. “Vegetables do so much more than provide important nutrients, they’re helping to make the entire meal more appealing and even making the person serving the meal appear to be more loving and caring, ” Wansink said.
“Children may not like all vegetables all of the time, but they may like some vegetables some of the time,” Wansink said. “Keep serving the vegetables that kids prefer and don’t be discouraged if they turn up their noses at other vegetables. They may eventually like them if you continue to offer them, and if they see you enjoy them, too. But celebrate these little victories and find ways to modify meals to accommodate your kids’ favorite vegetables.”
According to the release, nine out of 10 children and teenagers in the United States don’t meet their daily vegetable requirements, so the results of these studies are encouraging.
Doctor Headquarters (DrHQ.com) Editorial Staff Copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
