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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Over 40% of the family food budget is spent eating out. Family meals at home, eaten together, are often relegated to special occasions. Researchers from Dartmouth demonstrated that TV advertising by restaurant chains, kid’s meal choices, and toy collecting were the trifecta threat to children eating well. For kids ages 3 to 7, the more restaurant commercials watched on children’s TV channels, the more frequently their families visited those restaurants. The kids were driving the choice of where the family ate based on what they learned during commercials.
This influence is known as pester power or the nag factor. It can be subtle or overt, but there is no question that children consistently and directly influence parents’ food purchasing decisions. Children as young as five can act as initiators, idea generators and influencers in family decision making and once a child understands they can wield this power, they are more than happy to use their influence to get what they want. Couple this new found power with the fact that between the ages of 3 and 6 children begin to form food preferences that will define what they eat for many years.
A study done at the University of Oregon showed that most preschoolers prefer sugar, fat and salty tastes and they can associate these flavors with brand name foods, soda and restaurant menu choices. Research on children’s food preferences has shown that repeated exposure to a food eventually builds acceptance. It can take as many as 10 exposures before a child will try something new but this simple repeated process does work in the long run. If children are served French fries often, they will prefer French fries. When eating out, parents need to pay attention to the types of food they expose young children to because exposure builds food preferences.
Time-stressed, busy, young families often accept that eating out is a fact of life. Unfortunately, until recently, most kid’s meal choices had remained pretty stagnant over the years. Chicken nuggets, burgers, grilled cheese, pasta, macaroni and cheese, and pizza dominated most children’s menu choices. Restaurants simply don’t make much money off kid’s options. But, that is beginning to change because operators who don’t cater to pint-sized eaters can lose the adult customers they depend on.
Even though children’s menus are slow to change, millennial families are driving innovation. Of the hottest trends in restaurant meals in 2015, healthful kids meals was right up there with locally sourced foods, environmental sustainability, and minimally processed menu options. Three-quarters of parents are looking for healthy children’s meals and they would love to see age-specific menu options. Forty-five percent want healthier sides like apple slices or veggies and dip; 38% would like the drink to be milk or 100% juice as the default choice; and over 30% think a half portion of adult meals should be offered.
The National Restaurant Association has stepped in to promote better eating for kids with their Kids Live Well program that recently marked its fourth anniversary. It is a voluntary industry program with restaurants nationwide committed to offering healthful children’s menu choices centered around lean protein, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lower fat dairy choices. Participating restaurants can be found on the Healthy Dining Finder website (http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/kids_livewell/index).
Children’s first teachers are always parents and they learn by example. Providing a healthy food environment for your child is one of your primary jobs. It’s unlikely that your child will be content eating broccoli if you are munching on French fries and a triple burger. As a parent, your job is to set limits but it is also important that you set a good example. Remember – monkey see, monkey do. Raising kids is a tough job. You may not win every scrimmage, but providing good choices and good modeling will help you ultimately win the war.
© NRH Nutrition Consultants, Inc.
Jo-Ann Heslin, MA, RD, CDN is a registered dietitian and the author of 30 books. Available as eBooks from iTunes and Amazon Kindle:
Diabetes Counter
Calorie Counter
Protein Counter
Healthy Wholefoods Counter
Complete Food Counter
Fat and Cholesterol Counter
Available in print from Gallery Books:
Most Complete Food Counter, 3rd Ed.
Your Complete Food Counter App: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/your-complete-food-counter/id444558777?mt=8
For more information on Jo-Ann and her books, go to: www.TheNutritionExperts.com.
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