Family and child-care provider influences on preschool children's fruit, juice, and vegetable consumption

Children's intakes of fruit, juice, and vegetables (FJV) do not meet the re commended minimum of five daily servings, placing them at increased risk fo r development of cancer and other diseases Because children's food preferen ces and practices are initiated early in life (e,g., 2-5 years of age), ear ly dietary intervention programs may have immediate nutritional benefit, as well as reduce chronic disease risk when learned healthful habits and pref erences are carried into adulthood. Families and child-care settings are im portant social environments within which food-related behaviors among young children are developed FJV preferences, the primary predictor of FJV consu mption in children, are influenced by availability, variety, and repeated e xposure. Caregivers (parents and child-care providers) can influence childr en 's eating practices by controlling availability and accessibility of foo ds, meal structure, food modeling, food socialization practices, and foodre lated parenting style. Much remains to be learned about how these influence s and practices affect the development of FJV preferences and consumption e arly in life.