By using the right words and repeating the phrases, adults can help young kids get over picky eating behaviors and eat healthier foods, according to a new study. Saying "Lentils will help you run faster," for instance, encourages preschoolers to understand the benefits and pick the foods they want, the study authors write in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
"Previous studies have shown that adults struggle with how to talk to young children about food," said lead study author Jane Lanigan of Washington State University in Vancouver.
Most children between 4 and 8 years old don't meet recommended guidelines for vegetables, grains and fatty acids, and they tend to eat too many empty calories.
"Conversations are sometimes inaccurate or not helpful or even harmful in terms of helping a child learn to eat healthfully," she told Reuters Health by email.
Lanigan and colleagues worked with 87 preschoolers from two early childhood education centers, testing whether repeat exposure and the correct phrasing would help preschoolers try four foods that are generally less accepted by little kids: tomatoes, bell peppers, lentils and quinoa.
The researchers also surveyed parents about their child's eating history, the meal environment at home and nutrition knowledge, as well as parental income and education.
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