Infants fed home-cooked food are more likely to eat more fruit and vegetables by age 7 than babies fed store-bought prepared meals, according to a new study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition.
Researchers from De Montfort University and the universities of Bristol and Birmingham analyzed data from 7,866 mothers of children born in 1991 and 1992 who participated in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.
Children who were frequently given home-cooked fruit or vegetables aged six months were more likely to be eating higher amounts of fruit and vegetables at age of 7 than those given home-cooked meals less often. There was no positive effect on later eating habits for babies fed shop-bought meals.
The age of introduction and the frequency of exposure to home-cooked vegetables also affected intake. Babies weaned earlier, between 4 and 6 months, and exposed to fruit and vegetables regularly, had higher levels of consumption. Those weaned later, closer to the 6 months recommended by the World Health Organization, and given fruit and vegetables less frequently, were likely to eat fewer vegetables at age 7.
“The research has provided evidence that the early weaning period is an important time for the introduction of fruit and vegetables and that exposure in this period is a good indicator of later frequent consumption of fruit and vegetables," the researchers said. “It is likely that mothers who place importance on providing their child with a diet that is high in fruit and vegetables will start this process during the early weaning period."
Researchers from De Montfort University and the universities of Bristol and Birmingham analyzed data from 7,866 mothers of children born in 1991 and 1992 who participated in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.
Children who were frequently given home-cooked fruit or vegetables aged six months were more likely to be eating higher amounts of fruit and vegetables at age of 7 than those given home-cooked meals less often. There was no positive effect on later eating habits for babies fed shop-bought meals.
The age of introduction and the frequency of exposure to home-cooked vegetables also affected intake. Babies weaned earlier, between 4 and 6 months, and exposed to fruit and vegetables regularly, had higher levels of consumption. Those weaned later, closer to the 6 months recommended by the World Health Organization, and given fruit and vegetables less frequently, were likely to eat fewer vegetables at age 7.
“The research has provided evidence that the early weaning period is an important time for the introduction of fruit and vegetables and that exposure in this period is a good indicator of later frequent consumption of fruit and vegetables," the researchers said. “It is likely that mothers who place importance on providing their child with a diet that is high in fruit and vegetables will start this process during the early weaning period."
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