Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-29-2017
Abstract
Background: Research is mixed regarding how nutritional value of food can influence perceptions about taste, particularly among children. This study examined children’s perceptions of vegetable-enhanced snacks and milk substitutes prior to and after tasting. Methods: Two taste tests were performed with two groups of elementary age children (n = 29 and n=22). Prior to each tasting, they were made aware of the food being tasted. Participants provided perceptions of taste prior to sampling and also after tasting. Data were analyzed with paired two sample t-tests. In Taste Test #1, children gave spinach brownies higher ratings after tasting (prior: M=2.24; after: M = 2.86, p < .05) and rated cheesy sweet potato crisps lower after tasting (prior: M = 2.45, after: M = 1.48, p < .05). In Taste Test #2, children rated both vanilla soymilk (prior: M = 1.91, after: M = 2.64, p < .05) and zucchini oatmeal cookies (prior: M = 1.73, after: M = 2.46, p < .05) higher after tasting. Conclusion: Consumption of vegetable enhanced foods or milk substitutes may be encouraged without deception in order to promote a more nutrient dense diet among elementary-aged children
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Reeves, Janel, Thompson, Sharon, & Floyd, Alexandria. Call a Vegetable a Vegetable: Perceptions and Taste Ratings. The Open Public Health Journal, 2017. DOI: 10.2174/1874944501710010052. Available at: https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/physics-engineering/
Comments
Bentham Open originally published this article.