title: Perceived eating norms and vegetable consumption in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Beliefs about the eating behaviour of others (perceived eating norms) have been shown to influence eating behaviour in adults, but no research has examined whether young children are motivated by perceived eating norms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we investigated the effect on vegetable intake of exposing children to information about the vegetable intake of other children. One hundred and forty three children aged 6-11 years old took part in a between-subjects experiment. Children were exposed to information suggesting that other children had eaten a large amount of carrots, no carrots, or control information. Children ate more carrots when they believed that other children had eaten a large amount of carrots, compared to all other conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceived eating norms can influence vegetable intake in young children and making use of eating norms to promote healthier eating in children warrants investigation.
authors.affiliation: Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Eleanor Rathbone Building, Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK. maxine.sharps@liverpool.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Maxine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharps
authors.affiliation: Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Eleanor Rathbone Building, Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK. Eric.Robinson@liverpool.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables