For many parents, getting their kids to eat their greens is a constant battle. It often seems that whatever vegetables are served up to young children, they are refused with a vengeance. This can lead to young ones adopting poor diets. A new study from the University of Leeds in the U.K. suggests parents can train their children to like vegetables. The study showed that children under the age of two can get to like vegetables they initially rejected if they are offered them five to ten times. Researchers said even the fussiest of eaters will succumb to repeated exposure to vegetables. This is good news for parents worried about their children's dietary intake and levels of nutrition.
對許多父母來說,讓他們的孩子吃蔬菜是一場永不停歇的戰(zhàn)斗。通??磥?無論讓年幼的孩子吃什么蔬菜,他們總是拒絕。這可能會導致年輕人養(yǎng)成不良的飲食習慣。英國利茲大學一項新的研究,建議父母可以訓練孩子愛上蔬菜。研究表明,兩歲以下的孩子都能逐漸愛上之前拒絕的蔬菜,如果父母給孩子吃5到10次那種蔬菜。研究人員說,即使是最挑剔的食客,也會屈服于重復吃的那些蔬菜。對于擔心孩子飲食攝入量和營養(yǎng)水平的父母來說,這是一則好消息。
The study was conducted on 332 children aged between four months and three years from Britain, Denmark and France. Each child was given between five and 10 servings of at least 100g of artichoke puree. The younger children consumed more of the artichoke than the older children. Professor Marion Hetherington said: "If they are under two, they will eat new vegetables because they tend to be willing and open to new experiences. After 24 months, children become reluctant to try new things and start to reject foods - even those they previously liked." She added: "If you want to encourage your children to eat vegetables, make sure you start early and often."
這一項目對332名來自英國、丹麥和法國4個月至3歲大的兒童進行了研究。每個孩子得到5至10份至少100克的洋薊泥。年齡小的孩子比大一些的孩子吃了更多的洋薊。馬里昂海瑟林頓教授說,如果他們在兩歲以下,因為他們往往愿意接受新的體驗,所以他們會吃其他蔬菜。24個月后,孩子不愿意嘗試新事物,開始拒絕食物,甚至拒絕那些他們以前喜歡的食物。她補充道,如果你想鼓勵你的孩子吃蔬菜,一定要盡早開始,長時間培養(yǎng)。