For some reason, parents have always had a problem getting their children to eat vegetables and fruits. Studies have found out though that children are particular about food presentation and it is a matter of making fruit and vegetables look appealing so kids will eat these.
In a study involving 100 kids ranging from four to seven years old, researchers from Holland found out that children ate twice as much fruit and vegetables when they were prepared in a visually appealing manner.
They found out that children were more likely to eat apples, grapes and watermelon when they were cut and affixed to cocktail sticks than when presented on a simple white plate.
There was a study made. The participants were group into three. The first group was instructed not to eat the plate of appealing fruit; the second group was instructed not to eat the plate of regular fruit; and the third group was allowed to eat from either plate
Then on another occasion, all children were told they could eat from any plate. Surprisingly more children chose the appealing fruit over the regular plate. They consumed five ounces of the appealing fruit versus two and one half ounces of the regular fruit. The restrictions on certain plates did not alter the children’s eating behavior either.
It is recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that children should eat at least one to two cups of fruit per day.
Nevertheless, a lot of children in America consume less than what is recommended. And according to the Centers for Disease Control, for adolescents, only six percent of them eat the recommended amount of fruit required each day.
Let us help and encourage our children to take in more fruits by making the extra effort in presenting the fruits artistically. Currently, the research does not explain why this is so. It may take a while before the researchers can actually find the reason why, but until that day comes, parents are better off knowing that children eat more, if it is prepared elegantly inviting.
Enjoy more of this author’s work on things including the basketball system and personalized golf balls.
categories: nutrition,health,food,cooking,family,parenting,kids,teens,kids,happiness,recreation,leisure,reference,women