Children have increased appetite for vegetables if they are regularly shown pictures of them, new study suggests

• Children are more likely to eat vegetables if they are exposed to pictures of them
• They are also less likely to be fussy eaters and likely more willing to try new foods
• The study was carried out last year by researchers at the University of Reading
• The researchers developed 24 eBooks telling a vegetable’s journey to the plate

Children are more likely to eat vegetables if they are regularly shown pictures of them, research reveals. They are also less likely to be fussy eaters and more likely to be willing to try new foods.

University of Reading researchers behind the study have developed 24 eBooks telling the journey of a vegetable from field to plate. 

Dr Natalie Masento said: ‘Children’s acceptance of new foods can be boosted purely by a food’s visual familiarity.

Children are more likely to eat vegetables if they are regularly shown pictures of them, research from the University of Reading reveals (stock)

‘The theory of food familiarisation through picture books is well accepted and we hope that, through easy-to-access eBooks, even more parents will be able to use this tool to support their children to eat their vegetables.’

The study, carried out last year, worked with the parents of 127 toddlers aged 21 to 24 months.

They identified two ‘target’ foods they wanted their child to eat, one fruit and one vegetable.

Families were then randomly assigned to one of three groups.

Parents and children in two experimental groups looked at books about either the target fruit or vegetable every day for two weeks, while a third group did not receive a book.

Parents in all three groups were then asked to offer their child both target foods every day during a two-week taste-exposure phase.

Parental ratings of the children’s liking and consumption of the foods were then collected immediately following the two week period and three months later.

The results revealed the two groups that looked at books with their target foods enhanced children’s liking of their target vegetable after both two weeks and three months.

Nutritionist Bridget Benelam said: ‘The early years are a golden opportunity for encouraging healthy eating habits in children but we know that many parents find it hard to get children to eat plenty of vegetables.

‘This study may show us another way to make these challenges a bit easier for parents and ultimately to encourage children to establish healthy eating habits for life.’

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