Do food-related experiences in the first 2 years of life predict dietary variety in school-aged children?
OBJECTIVE
To determine if food-related experiences in the first 2 years of life predict dietary variety in school-aged children.


METHODS
Child/mother pairs were interviewed 7 or 8 times when children were 2 to 24 months using a randomized incomplete block design to schedule interviews. Each child/mother pair was interviewed when the child was ages 6, 7, and 8 years.


METHODS
Child/mother pairs (n = 70) were continuous participants in the longitudinal study.


METHODS
Dependent variables were children's vegetable and fruit dietary variety, assessed from 3 days of dietary data at ages 6, 7, and 8 years. Independent variables from the first 2 years of life were selected from the longitudinal data set.


METHODS
General linear models. Adjustments for age that vegetables (or fruits) were introduced in the diet.


RESULTS
Vegetable variety in the school-aged child was predicted by mother's vegetable preferences, R2 =.084. Fruit variety in the school-aged child was predicted by breast-feeding duration and either early fruit variety (R2 =.254) or fruit exposure (R2 =.246).


CONCLUSIONS
Nutrition education messages for mothers should emphasize the importance of early food-related experiences to school-aged children's acceptance of a variety of vegetables and fruits.
Skinner
Jean D
JD
Nutrition Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37996-1920, USA. skinner@utk.edu
Carruth
Betty Ruth
BR
Bounds
Wendy
W
Ziegler
Paula
P
Reidy
Kathleen
K
D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D004032:Diet; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology*; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014675:Vegetables