Do you find it difficult to say no to a cupcake? Or ice cream? Or cookies? The reason why could trace back to your childhood, according to a new study published in the journal Appetite.
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The study examined how media influences attitudes toward different foods in kids ages two and four. Since books follow television as the most popular media source for kids, researchers surveyed 100 fiction and nonfiction children's books to see how often food was depicted. Sixty-nine had images of food and among these, 57 percent showed fruit, 35 percent mentioned vegetables, and 26 percent had sweets like cake and cookies.
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What kids read about food when they're young translates to eating habits they maintain through adulthood. "Kids will basically eat anything unless we allow them to be picky," Dr. Tricia Gold of Tribeca Pediatrics tells New York magazine, "Shortly after introducing solid foods at around six months, children's palates are in the exploration mode and behavior is not generally tied to their food yet." Toddlers don't have independent opinions of food being desirable or not until books, television, and media tell them what to like and not like.
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Case in point: In the research, children's books including ice cream stood out because it was often "offered as a treat to celebrate an occasion, make someone feel better, and/or to indicate a happy ending. No other food enjoyed such a specific status with such a privileged connotation." The study concludes, "When nutrient-poor foods are presented not only frequently but positively, they likely contribute to children's view of them as both normative and desirable."
There's good news, however. Researchers suggest parents can guide kids to love veggies by introducing books that "emphasize depictions of healthy foods" as well. Time to order Rah, Rah Radishes! in bulk?