An investigation into food choices among 5–12 years children in relation to sensory, nutritional, and healthy product cues
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An investigation into food choices among 5–12 years children in relation to sensory, nutritional, and healthy product cues. / Rigo, Manuela; Mohebbi, Mohammadreza; Keast, Russell; Harrison, Paul; Kelly, Meghan; Olsen, Annemarie; Bredie, Wender L.P.; Russell, Catherine G.
In: Food Quality and Preference, Vol. 111, 104990, 2023.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - An investigation into food choices among 5–12 years children in relation to sensory, nutritional, and healthy product cues
AU - Rigo, Manuela
AU - Mohebbi, Mohammadreza
AU - Keast, Russell
AU - Harrison, Paul
AU - Kelly, Meghan
AU - Olsen, Annemarie
AU - Bredie, Wender L.P.
AU - Russell, Catherine G.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - A key determinant of children's health is the quality and quantity of their food and energy intake. In middle childhood children gain greater independence over their food choices. Understanding the factors that influence their choices is therefore important, particularly in the context of obesogenic food environments where children need to learn to identify and select healthier options. This study aimed to examine the role of food attributes in affecting children's food preferences and perception of healthiness and tastiness. A secondary aim was to determine if portion size was related to children's food perceptions and preferences. Participants (children 5–12 years) completed a discrete choice experiment (n = 2112) that examined their perceptions of bread and smoothies when the attributes of type/flavour, food form and portion size were systematically varied. Children were asked about their (i) food preferences, and their perceptions of (ii) healthiness and (iii) tastiness. Data were analyzed using a conditional logit model for the foods independently, and the relative contribution of the attributes to children's preferences, and perceptions of healthiness and tastiness was determined. The results found that children primarily used the type/flavour of the breads and smoothies to form their preferences and perceptions, and the other attributes (portion size and food form), had minimal influence. This study found that children aged 5–12 years made simple food choices and formed perceptions of how healthy or tasty a food was based on a single food characteristic (the type/flavour), ignoring the portion size and food form. This suggests that when children in middle childhood make food choices, they are likely to rely primarily on the food's flavour or type and do not consider other important attributes that will affect their diet quality and energy balance.
AB - A key determinant of children's health is the quality and quantity of their food and energy intake. In middle childhood children gain greater independence over their food choices. Understanding the factors that influence their choices is therefore important, particularly in the context of obesogenic food environments where children need to learn to identify and select healthier options. This study aimed to examine the role of food attributes in affecting children's food preferences and perception of healthiness and tastiness. A secondary aim was to determine if portion size was related to children's food perceptions and preferences. Participants (children 5–12 years) completed a discrete choice experiment (n = 2112) that examined their perceptions of bread and smoothies when the attributes of type/flavour, food form and portion size were systematically varied. Children were asked about their (i) food preferences, and their perceptions of (ii) healthiness and (iii) tastiness. Data were analyzed using a conditional logit model for the foods independently, and the relative contribution of the attributes to children's preferences, and perceptions of healthiness and tastiness was determined. The results found that children primarily used the type/flavour of the breads and smoothies to form their preferences and perceptions, and the other attributes (portion size and food form), had minimal influence. This study found that children aged 5–12 years made simple food choices and formed perceptions of how healthy or tasty a food was based on a single food characteristic (the type/flavour), ignoring the portion size and food form. This suggests that when children in middle childhood make food choices, they are likely to rely primarily on the food's flavour or type and do not consider other important attributes that will affect their diet quality and energy balance.
KW - Children
KW - Discrete choice experiment
KW - Food choices
KW - Food perceptions
KW - Food preferences
KW - Healthy
KW - Portion size
KW - Tasty
U2 - 10.1016/j.foodqual.2023.104990
DO - 10.1016/j.foodqual.2023.104990
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85172687737
VL - 111
JO - Food Quality and Preference
JF - Food Quality and Preference
SN - 0950-3293
M1 - 104990
ER -
ID: 369355734