title: Effects of starting weaning exclusively with vegetables on vegetable intake at the age of 12 and 23 months.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The low vegetable intake in children may be attributed to their low preference for vegetables. During the first year of life, first taste preferences are formed, which may track over time. In a previous study to increase infants' vegetable intake and liking, we found that at the start of weaning, infants had a higher vegetable intake in the lab after repeated exposure to vegetable purées than to fruit purées. The current study is a follow-up of these infants at the age of 12 and 23 months, and examined whether the group that started weaning with vegetables continued eating more vegetables than the group that started weaning with fruits.
  
  
  METHODS
  At 12 (n = 86) and 23 (n = 81) months of age the children's daily vegetable consumption was reported by their parents using a 3-day food diary. The intake of green beans and apple purée was measured in the laboratory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reported daily intake of vegetables at 12 months of age was 38 % higher (P = 0.02) in the vegetable group (75 ± 43 g) than in the fruit group (54 ± 29 g), but was similar for both groups at 23 months of age (49 ± 43, 57 ± 35 g, respectively; NS). Both at 12 and 23 months of age, apple and green beans intake in the lab did not differ significantly between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that weaning exclusively with vegetables results in a higher daily vegetable consumption until at least 12 months of age. More research is needed to investigate how to maintain this effect.
authors: Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Coraline.Barends@wur.nl.
authors: Coraline
authors: C
authors: Barends
authors: Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Jeanne H M
authors: JH
authors: de Vries
authors: Food and Biobased Research, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Jos
authors: J
authors: Mojet
authors: Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Cees
authors: C
authors: de Graaf
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005518:Food Preferences; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D013649:Taste; D014675:Vegetables; D014886:Weaning
keywords: Infants; Longitudinal; Repeated exposure; Vegetables; Weaning