First tastes shape food preferences for life
For years, we’ve been told that good health, is a matter of good choice… ‘choose to eat less and move more for a healthy life.’ But a growing body of medical research proves CHOICE is actually a matter of TASTE and that many of our children are being programmed to prefer the taste of unhealthy foods and flavors from the very start of life.
First tastes shape food preferences for life
For years, we’ve been told that good health, is a matter of good choice… ‘choose to eat less and move more for a healthy life.’ But a growing body of medical research proves CHOICE is actually a matter of TASTE and that many of our children are being programmed to prefer the taste of unhealthy foods and flavors from the very start of life.
Food preferences form early
Beginning in our mother’s womb, our food and flavor preferences develop across 3 critical phases: First, at 16 weeks of life, as we taste our mother’s diet through the amniotic fluid, then after birth as we taste the ever-changing profile of breastmilk or static flavor of formula, and then most critically, in our first tastes of solid foods – when first tastes teach us what foods should look, feel, smell and taste like.
Food preferences form early
Beginning in our mother’s womb, our food and flavor preferences develop across 3 critical phases: First, at 16 weeks of life, as we taste our mother’s diet through the amniotic fluid, then after birth as we taste the ever-changing profile of breastmilk or static flavor of formula, and then most critically, in our first tastes of solid foods – when first tastes teach us what foods should look, feel, smell and taste like.
Food preferences form early
Beginning in our mother’s womb, our food and flavor preferences develop across 3 critical phases: First, at 16 weeks of life, as we taste our mother’s diet through the amniotic fluid, then after birth as we taste the ever-changing profile of breastmilk or static flavor of formula, and then most critically, in our first tastes of solid foods – when first tastes teach us what foods should look, feel, smell and taste like.
A multi-sensory learning experience
This multisensory learning experience conditions us – neurologically and emotionally – to prefer the first foods and flavors we are offered – not just throughout our childhood years, but throughout life.
A multi-sensory learning experience
This multisensory learning experience conditions us – neurologically and emotionally – to prefer the first foods and flavors we are offered – not just throughout our childhood years, but throughout life.
A multi-sensory learning experience
This multisensory learning experience conditions us – neurologically and emotionally – to prefer the first foods and flavors we are offered – not just throughout our childhood years, but throughout life.
Toddlerhood is too late to shape tastes
Studies show that the window to influence food preferences is most open between 4-7 months, and closes as a child approaches 2, when “neophobia” or a fear of new food (and a healthy dose of toddler independence) sets in. Studies also show that the way we eat at 2 predicts how we will eat at 20, so we don’t want to wait to start shaping good tastes.
Toddlerhood is too late to shape tastes
Studies show that the window to influence food preferences is most open between 4-7 months, and closes as a child approaches 2, when “neophobia” or a fear of new food (and a healthy dose of toddler independence) sets in. Studies also show that the way we eat at 2 predicts how we will eat at 20, so we don’t want to wait to start shaping good tastes.
Toddlerhood is too late to shape tastes
Studies show that the window to influence food preferences is most open between 4-7 months, and closes as a child approaches 2, when “neophobia” or a fear of new food (and a healthy dose of toddler independence) sets in. Studies also show that the way we eat at 2 predicts how we will eat at 20, so we don’t want to wait to start shaping good tastes.
If first bites set food preferences for life, why
are so many of the brands that we turn
to for help teaching
our children that all food should taste sweet
and over-processed, that vegetables
must be hidden and spices banned?
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
“Current available products do not provide caregivers with a sufficient variety of single-vegetable products or
products containing dark green vegetables to facilitate children's subsequent acceptance of these vegetables.
Guidance should include making caregivers aware of the limitations of commercial Infant and Toddler Foods manufactured and sold
in the US market.”
– Conclusions from ‘Variety and content of commercial infant and toddler vegetable products
manufactured and sold in the United States.’
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
“Current available products do not provide caregivers with a sufficient variety of single-vegetable products or
products containing dark green vegetables to facilitate children's subsequent acceptance of these vegetables.
Guidance should include making caregivers aware of the limitations of commercial Infant and Toddler Foods manufactured and sold in the US market.”
– Conclusions from ‘variety and content of commercial infant and toddler vegetable products manufactured and sold in the United States.
No wonder a new study found that the French fry is the no 1 consumed vegetable amongst toddlers in America, when the baby food category is simply setting us all up for a food fight.
#endfuturefoodfights
No wonder the French fry is the number 1 consumed vegetable amongst toddlers in America, when the baby food category is simply setting us all up for a food fight.
#endfuturefoodfights
