Search Here

Do your children hate vegetables? Probably you did not feed them enough before they were 24 months old. 

A new research is suggesting that exposing infants to new vegetables early in life encourages them to eat more of it compared to offering novel vegetables to older children. 

According to the research even fussy eaters are able to eat a bit more of a new vegetable each time they are offered. 

The research involves babies and children from various countries including  UK, France and Denmark. The findings of the research is contrasting to the popular myth that vegetables tastes need to be masked or given by stealth in order for children to eat them.

"For parents who wish to encourage healthy eating in their children, our research offers some valuable guidance," said lead researcher Professor Marion Hetherington in the Institute of Psychological Sciences, according to press release. 

"If you want to encourage your children to eat vegetables, make sure you start early and often. Even if your child is fussy or does not like veggies, our study shows that 5-10 exposures will do the trick."

The study considered around 332 children aged from weaning age to 38 months who were given artichoke puree. During the experiment each child was given between five and 10 servings of at least 100g of the artichoke puree in one of three versions: basic; sweetened, with added sugar; or added energy, where vegetable oil was mixed into the puree, the press release added. 

Researchers observed that younger children consumed more artichoke than older children. The reason they suggested that after 24 months children become more reluctant to try new things and also start to reject foods. 

Globe artichoke was chosen as the sample vegetable because, as part of the research, parents were surveyed and artichoke was one of the least-offered vegetables, the press release added.

The research has been published in the journal PLoS ONE.