A new study, published in the journal Obesity, suggests that parents smile while eating something that they want their children to eat. Researchers found that how much children wanted to eat a particular food was influenced by emotions displayed by people eating it in photos.

Photos of people happily eating a child's favorite food made them want it even more, while a photo of a person looking "disgusted" by that same food tended to make the children want it less. If a child disliked a certain food, seeing someone with a pleasant expression eating it made the child more open to trying that food.

These results build on a study published in late 2008 in the journal Preventive Medicine suggesting that parents can increase the amount of fruits and vegetables their children eat simply by eating more themselves. In this study, researchers found that when parents increased their own consumption of fruits and veggies, their kid's consumption rose as well. For every extra serving of fruit or vegetable eaten by a parent, their child ate an extra half serving.

"We have always known that parents have a tremendous influence on what their children eat," said Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., president and CEO of Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) the nonprofit entity in partnership with CDC behind the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters® national public health initiative. "These two studies demonstrate that this influence extends from simply making fruits and vegetables available for their children, to modeling their own enjoyment of eating a healthy diet."

Pivonka says that parents can shape their children's eating habits and help them develop a healthy attitude toward food. "But, be careful not to send mixed signals. Don't be the mom who insists that her kids eat breakfast and then skips the meal herself or the dad who tells his kids to eat all their vegetables and then won't eat them himself."

In addition, while the implications aren't surprising, they are far-reaching. Every time an actor, athlete, or other public figure suggests that they don't like a particular vegetable, it plays a role in undermining the effort to increase its consumption.

Here is some good advice for parents:

- Show kids how enjoyable healthy foods can be with comments like "Wow, that tastes good!" or "Look how colorful!"

- Set an example by being a good role model. Eat the way you want your child to eat. Choose a variety of healthy foods from all the food groups, eat in moderation and make exercise part of your regular routine.

- Don't ban foods. Kids will encounter cookies, chips and other treats when they're away from home. Allow them to explore, but at the same time teach them what their bodies need. The goal is to enjoy a varied healthy diet, which allows for occasional indulgences.

- Get kids in the kitchen. From an early age, involve children in preparing food. Children love being involved; they love feeling like they're helping. If they feel they're part of the process, they're more likely to try the finished product.

The Fruits & Veggies-More Matters website, offers parents even more tips to help persuade their children to eat fruits and vegetables. Parents will find a database of over 1,000 recipes, many of which can be made in 30 minutes or less, and a Video Center with videos about fruit and vegetable selection, storage, and preparation, along with tips for eating healthy on a budget. The entire website was designed to help the whole family easily fit more fruits & veggies into their meals and snacks. While you're online, have the kids check out here. It features great games and activities to get kids excited about fruits and vegetables and help them start eating more.

Source:
Produce for Better Health Foundation