Gourd news for parents trying to raise healthy eaters!
It turns out that the battle to get kids to eat their veggies starts much earlier than you might think — like in the womb — so mothers have a chance to influence tastes long before the “ewwws” and eyerolls begin.
New research out of the UK finds that fetuses exposed to vegetables in utero are less likely to grimace at the scent of those veggies later in life.
This may be an important finding for many American households. Some 49% of US children ages 1 to 5 don’t eat a daily vegetable, according to 2021 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In previous research by Durham University, fetuses at 32 and 36 weeks gestation were found to display distinct facial reactions when their mothers repeatedly consumed non-bitter carrot powder capsules and bitter kale powder capsules.
The researchers used ultrasounds to capture the “laughter face” reactions to carrot and “cry face” reactions to kale before birth. These expressions were also noted three weeks after delivery.
In the new study, published this week in the journal Developmental Psychobiology, the scientists explored whether prenatal exposure to these flavors resulted in flavor-specific odor reactions at 3 years of age. Twelve children from the prior research participated in the new experiment.
“Results showed that the 3-year-olds exhibited a significantly reduced rate of negative facial expressions in response to the odor they had been repeatedly exposed to in utero,” the study authors wrote.
“Flavor exposure in late gestation can result in long-lasting flavor/odor memory, confirming that the prenatal chemosensory environment can shape behavioral tendencies years after birth.”
The researchers are calling for studies to see if prenatal exposure to vegetables leads to more vegetables consumed down the line.
Kids generally start to eat veggies around 6 months old, but it can be a struggle.
Any parent who has had a bowl of pureed peas hurled at them will tell you they’re less likely to serve specific veggies if their child makes a face or throws a fit.
And that’s a problem because children typically need between 1 and 3 cups of vegetables daily for vitamins, minerals and fiber that support growth, brain development and long-term health.
Instead of resorting to threats and bribery, experts recommend having your kids help you shop for and cook the vegetables, pairing them with dips or favorite foods, quietly folding them into smoothies and being persistent in your attempts.
