A new study suggests that the key to getting children to eat their vegetables may lie in exposing them to these flavours before birth. Researchers at Durham University found that toddlers who were exposed to kale or carrot in the womb reacted more positively to the smell of those vegetables years later, compared to those who had not been exposed.
Study Methodology
The study involved giving pregnant women capsules containing either kale or carrot powder. Researchers then used ultrasound to observe foetal facial reactions to the smells of these vegetables. After birth, the infants were tested again at around three weeks old, and again at age three. The results showed consistent patterns: children exposed to a particular vegetable in the womb were more likely to show positive reactions to its smell and negative reactions to the other vegetable.
Long-Lasting Effects
Lead author Prof Nadja Reissland of Durham University said: "What we see over time is that the children are still more favourable to vegetables they were exposed to while in the womb. From this we can suggest that being exposed to a particular flavour in late pregnancy can result in long-lasting flavour or odour memory in children, potentially shaping their food preferences years after birth."
Implications for Health
Reissland noted that the implications could be significant for public health. "A consequence would be that you have a healthier population," she said. The researchers used vegetable powder capsules because some pregnant women found it difficult to consume large quantities of juice. The study, published in the journal Developmental Psychobiology, also included researchers from the University of Cambridge, Aston University, and universities in France and the Netherlands.
Future Research
While the sample size was small, the team hopes to conduct a larger study. Reissland suggested that giving vegetable powder capsules to pregnant women could be a low-cost intervention to promote healthier eating habits from an early age. Co-author Dr Beyza Ustun-Elayan of the University of Cambridge said: "These findings open up new ways of thinking about early dietary interventions, suggesting that flavours from the maternal diet during pregnancy may quietly shape children’s responses to foods years later."
Another co-author, Dr Benoist Schaal from the CNRS in France, added: "This study confirms that human foetuses can sense the flavours of foods that pregnant mothers eat, which might affect what they will like for years after birth. Research is needed on other odorants and how they affect the foetus and child."
