Why did you conduct a review of the literature on complementary feeding with vegetables?
As a behavioural nutritionist, I am very interested in understanding how we can help children to develop healthy eating habits, and this is a topic the BNF is frequently asked about by the baby food industry. An almost universal challenge is encouraging children to eat enough vegetables, and so I have been particularly excited by research indicating that acclimatising infants to the taste of vegetables from the start of complementary feeding can increase the likelihood that these foods will be consumed in later childhood. I had learnt from national surveys that, in the UK, vegetables are offered less frequently than fruits and cereals as first foods; in other European countries there appears to be more emphasis on vegetables.
Is it possible for any child to learn to enjoy vegetables?
The literature review, published in Nutrition Bulletin (which I edit), highlighted that while infants are born with an innate preference for sweet, salty and umami flavours, this will be modified by food experiences. Although some infants are likely to accept vegetables more readily than others, all should be able to learn to accept some vegetables if given the opportunity. Exposing infants to the taste of a wide variety of vegetables from the beginning of complementary feeding will help them to learn to like these foods, and this is exciting as evidence indicates food preferences acquired during this sensitive period tend to track into later childhood.
How can early years professionals play a role in improving diet?
Recently, the BNF invited leading infant feeding experts to discuss the translation of these research findings into practical messages for parents and carers. The consensus was that when infants are ready for complementary feeding, usually around six months, parents should capitalise on the ‘window of opportunity’ by familiarising their child with as many vegetables as possible. In the very early days, the focus should be on providing the opportunity to repeatedly taste a variety of vegetables, particularly focusing on those without a sweet flavour (eg, green leafy vegetables). At first, it is probably best to offer these foods singularly so that infants become familiarised with the individual tastes. Sometimes it can take eight or more exposures before infants learn to accept a new food. Parents should persevere and not be put off by their child’s facial expressions, which usually mean they are surprised or interested rather than disgusted. As feeding progresses, because infants’ iron stores begin to deplete from about six months, it is important that vegetables and fruit are offered in the context of a healthy, balanced diet, which includes iron-rich foods.