Food neophobia in childhood affects dietary variety

Citation
Ga. Falciglia et al., Food neophobia in childhood affects dietary variety, J AM DIET A, 100(12), 2000, pp. 1474
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Food Science/Nutrition","Endocrynology, Metabolism & Nutrition
Journal title
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION
ISSN journal
00028223 → ACNP
Volume
100
Issue
12
Year of publication
2000
Database
ISI
SICI code
0002-8223(200012)100:12<1474:FNICAD>2.0.ZU;2-M
Abstract
Objective To determine whether children with food neophobia (unwillingness to try new foods) have more restrictive diets than children without neophob ia. Subjects Seventy children were classified into 3 groups based on scores obt ained on the Food Neophobia Scale: neophobic group. score greater than 41; neophilic group, score less than 27; and average group, score of 28 to 40. Design Dietary data were collected and analyzed for 3 days selected randoml y. The dependent variables measured were energy and nutrient. intakes, serv ings of each Food Guide Pyramid group, and Health Eating Index (HEI) scores . Statistical analyses chi (2), 1-way analysis of covariance, and Scheffe. mu ltiple comparisons tests were conducted. Results The 3 groups were similar with respect to the number of children me eting two thirds of the RDA/DRI for energy and most nutrients. The exceptio n was vitamin E: fewer neophobic children met two thirds of the recommended value for this nutrient than average and neophilic children. The overall H EI score was significantly lower for the neophobic group compared with the average and neophilic groups. The HEI index showed that children with neoph obia had a higher intake of saturated fat and less food variety than childr en without food neophobia. Applications Dietitians should emphasize increased food variety for childre n within the context of a healthful diet. Research should be conducted to d etermine the effects of dietary variety on quality of diet and health of ch ildren.