Babies fed home-cooked food are more likely to eat fruit and vegetables when they …
Babies fed home-cooked food are more likely to eat fruit and vegetables when they are older than those given meals from jars and packets, researchers have claimed.
Infants weaned on home-made casseroles and puddings develop a taste for what is good for them aged seven, experts from De Montfort University in Leicester and the universities of Bristol and Birmingham reported.
Analysis of data from 7,866 mothers of children born in 1991 and 1992 showed youngsters who were frequently given home-cooked fruit or vegetables aged six months were more likely to be eating higher amounts of fruit and vegetable aged seven than those given home-cooked meals less often.
There was no positive effect on later eating habits for babies fed shop-bought meals, the report in journal Public Health Nutrition added.
Dr Helen Coulthard, from De Montfort University, said mothers should be giving their infants a home-cooked fruit or vegetable every day.
She added: "The range and type of foods that young children eat is becoming an increasing cause for concern. In particular, children do not seem to be eating the amounts of fruit and vegetables recommended for health.
"In 1998 the average intake of fruit and vegetables in young children in the UK was two and half portions a day. There have been, and continue to be, many initiatives to increase this figure to the recommended five portions a day."
The study found that babies weaned earlier, between four and six months, and exposed to fruit and vegetables regularly, had the highest level of consumption aged seven. Those weaned when they were aged around six months old, and given fruit and vegetables less frequently, were less likely to eat fruit and veg aged seven.
However, those babies given home-cooked fruit and vegetables at a later age but given them more frequently, had similar levels of consumption as those given them earlier.
Dr Coulthard added: "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. Health workers should encourage the introduction of home-cooked fruit and vegetables rather than ready-prepared baby foods to infants during the weaning process."
Infants weaned on home-made casseroles and puddings develop a taste for what is good for them aged seven, experts from De Montfort University in Leicester and the universities of Bristol and Birmingham reported.
Analysis of data from 7,866 mothers of children born in 1991 and 1992 showed youngsters who were frequently given home-cooked fruit or vegetables aged six months were more likely to be eating higher amounts of fruit and vegetable aged seven than those given home-cooked meals less often.
There was no positive effect on later eating habits for babies fed shop-bought meals, the report in journal Public Health Nutrition added.
Dr Helen Coulthard, from De Montfort University, said mothers should be giving their infants a home-cooked fruit or vegetable every day.
She added: "The range and type of foods that young children eat is becoming an increasing cause for concern. In particular, children do not seem to be eating the amounts of fruit and vegetables recommended for health.
"In 1998 the average intake of fruit and vegetables in young children in the UK was two and half portions a day. There have been, and continue to be, many initiatives to increase this figure to the recommended five portions a day."
The study found that babies weaned earlier, between four and six months, and exposed to fruit and vegetables regularly, had the highest level of consumption aged seven. Those weaned when they were aged around six months old, and given fruit and vegetables less frequently, were less likely to eat fruit and veg aged seven.
However, those babies given home-cooked fruit and vegetables at a later age but given them more frequently, had similar levels of consumption as those given them earlier.
Dr Coulthard added: "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. Health workers should encourage the introduction of home-cooked fruit and vegetables rather than ready-prepared baby foods to infants during the weaning process."
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