It is common knowledge that children are not fond of seeds, pulp, or chunks in their food. However, a recent study indicates that six-year-olds particularly dislike lumps in their food. This research provides valuable insights into children’s food preferences across different age groups, benefitting parents, healthcare professionals, and the food industry.
If you’ve noticed your six-year-old becoming more particular about the texture of their meals, fret not. This phase is temporary. A study conducted by the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Food Science reveals that children at the age of six tend to avoid crunchiness in peanut butter, berries in jam, and fruit pieces in yogurt.
In this study, researchers surveyed 485 children aged five to twelve, asking them to choose between six foods with and without lumps, seeds, or fruit pieces. The food items included bread, orange juice, peanut butter, strawberry jam, yogurt, and tomato soup. Children were shown illustrations of these foods with and without lumps and were asked to make their preferred selection.
In 76% of cases, six-year-olds preferred foods without lumps, marking the highest preference rate among all age groups.
“While it’s widely recognized that children generally dislike lumpy foods, this study is the first to specifically link this food preference to a particular age group, namely six-year-olds,” says Dr. Ching Yue Chow, the study’s lead author.
To ensure precise results, researchers utilized real food samples to assess the consistency of children’s responses in other studies.
Protecting Against Hazardous Foods
According to Dr. Ching Yue Chow, there might be a reason behind why children exhibit heightened aversion to complex food textures around the age of six.
“Food neophobia refers to the reluctance to consume new or unfamiliar foods. It is believed to act as a protective mechanism to prevent children from ingesting potentially toxic foods or other harmful substances as they become more independent. Studies indicate that food neophobia starts at a low level during weaning, increases significantly as children become more mobile and independent, peaking around 6 or 7 years old.
Hence, it is understandable that this specific age group in our study dislikes lumps in food, as they are most cautious about food during this age,” explains Dr. Ching Yue Chow.
The study also explored whether the size of food chunks influenced preferences but did not find a definitive answer.
“Children generally had no difficulty distinguishing between different chunk sizes in their mouths. For them, it’s more about the presence or absence of chunks,” notes Dr. Ching Yue Chow.
Despite a dip in the desire for chunky food at the age of six, the trend reverses in 7-12-year-olds, as indicated by the study. This aligns with previous knowledge on how children’s food preferences evolve with age.
“As children enter school age, they may be influenced by peers and others in their social circle to try new foods and exhibit a greater willingness to broaden their culinary horizons. It is evident that the proportion of children desiring food with chunks increases with age, reflecting the maturation of children’s food preferences,” states Dr. Ching Yue Chow.
Introducing New Dishes – Persistence is Key
Regarding the “anti-chunk phase” observed in six-year-olds, parents are advised to be patient, as preferences may change after this critical age. Repeatedly introducing new dishes, up to 15 times, is recommended:
“Numerous studies on children’s dietary habits suggest that frequent exposure to new foods positively impacts their willingness to consume them. The key is to offer children the chance to sample new dishes alongside familiar ones. Typically, children may need to encounter a new dish 8-15 times before developing a preference for it, demonstrating the value of persistence,” explains Dr. Ching Yue Chow.
Additionally, it is wise to avoid coercion or rewards when encouraging children to eat vegetables.
“Rewarding a child with dessert for finishing their vegetables yields short-term results. Once the incentive is removed, children may refuse to eat healthy foods. Similarly, pressuring children or enforcing certain food choices can backfire, leading to increased reluctance towards new foods due to negative associations,” advises Dr. Ching Yue Chow.
These recent research findings offer insights into the food preferences of children aged five to twelve, aiming to guide parents and the food industry in fostering healthier relationships with food.
“Understanding children’s underlying psychology when serving them food as a parent or developing new products as a food company is crucial in preventing children from developing unnecessary pickiness. I hope our study can inspire parents and food developers in this regard,” concludes Dr. Ching Yue Chow.
Six-year-olds exhibit the least preference for lumps in food:
Study Overview:
- The study was a collaborative effort between the Future Consumer Lab, the Department of Food Science at the University of Copenhagen, and the CASS Food Research Centre at Deakin University in Australia.
- The study was conducted by Ching Yue Chow, Anne C. Bech, Annemarie Olsen, Russell Keast, Catherine G. Russell, and Wender L.P. Bredie.
- 485 Australian children aged 5-12 participated in the study.
- The study received funding from Innovation Fund Denmark and Arla Foods.
