title: Trying versus liking fruits and vegetables: correspondence between mothers and preschoolers.
abstract: Extensive research indicates that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables (F&V) protects against numerous illnesses in adulthood, but that most individuals, including children, consume far fewer F&V per day than is recommended. Since evidence suggests that eating habits in childhood track into adulthood, more research is necessary to learn about how parental F&V intake and opportunities influence child F&V consumption. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between mothers' F&V preferences and those of their preschool-age children to determine if greater maternal "liking" of fruits and vegetables was associated with their reports of their children's "trying" more fruits and vegetables. Eighty-three mothers completed a questionnaire that assessed whether they and their preschoolers had tried or liked a variety of F&V. Mothers liked 86% of the fruits they tried, girls 76%, and boys 69%. Mothers liked 81% of the vegetables they tried; boys and girls liked 55%. Mothers' likes correlated with F&V that their children tried, but mothers' likes also limited the number of F&V that their children tried. Mothers reported preferences for F&V are associated with estimates of their preschoolers' preferences for F&V. Relative to girls, boys may need additional opportunities for F&V exposure.
authors: Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-2882, USA. harrietw@rci.rutgers.edu
authors: Harriet
authors: H
authors: Worobey
authors: Kathleen
authors: K
authors: Ostapkovich
authors: Kristin
authors: K
authors: Yudin
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Worobey
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology*; D005638:Fruit; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009515:New Jersey; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012578:Schools, Nursery; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D014675:Vegetables