Childhood Nutrition

Paper Summary:

This paper is based on an article by Leann Birch titled 'Development of Food Acceptance Patterns' in the July 1990 issue of "Developmental Psychology". The author points out that knowing what affects children's eating patterns can make a difference in whether a child is healthy or obese. The paper relates that the three factors affecting whether a child will try a new food and the patterns of food choice a child will have are culture, biology and individual experience. The paper stresses that the role of the caregiver is to teach children the importance of eating nutritious foods.

From the Paper:

"When children sense the stress and concern over whether the child will eat a new food, they often refuse due to the anxiety they are feeling about them eating it. For instance, a young girl was asked to eat barbecue ribs. She could tell that her parents did not think she would like it so she refused. When the young girl began dating and she was asked to try barbecue ribs by her boyfriend she tried it. She found she loved barbecue ribs. Later, she told her parents that she could sense that they did not think she would like it so she refused."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Birch, L. "Development of Food Acceptance Patterns." Developmental Psychology 26.4 (Jul 1990), 515.

More papers on Childhood Nutrition:

• Essay # 89307 : "Childhood Obesity"
• Research Paper # 105703 : "Childhood Obesity Epidemic"
• Research Paper # 128462 : "The Importance of Nutrition in Early Childhood Development"

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