Sensory sensitivity as predictive of fruit and vegetable acceptance in young infants
Description
TitleSensory sensitivity as predictive of fruit and vegetable acceptance in young infants
Date Created2018
Other Date2018-10 (degree)
Extent1 online resource (62 pages : illustrations)
DescriptionThe early introduction of fruits and vegetables to infants is an area gaining interest due to the rapid rise of childhood obesity. There is a clear low intake of fruits and vegetables amongst all age groups in the United States. Sensory factors such as taste, smell, temperature, and texture may play a role in fruit and vegetable acceptance in infants who may be oversensitive. A number of sensitivity and temperament scales have been developed, but none have explored the relationship between actual fruit and vegetable consumption by infants and specific sensory properties of foods. The purpose of this study was to develop and implement a novel questionnaire assessing the relationship between sensory sensitivity and fruit and vegetable acceptance infants less than 1 year of age. The questionnaire combined questions from existing scales addressing food responsiveness, sensory threshold in the context of temperament, sensory sensitivity, and maternal and infant fruit and vegetable acceptance, as well as novel questions addressing sensory sensitivity. Questionnaires were completed by mothers utilizing services at the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in New Brunswick, NJ. After analyzing the data collected, results showed that when separated into age groups, domains in the overall sensory sensitivity scale showed a relationship with fruit and vegetable acceptance, most notably in the youngest age group of 3 to 6 months. The more sensitive to these domains (i.e. taste, smell, texture, temperature, appearance) the infants were, the lower their fruit and vegetable acceptance. Additionally, the more fruits and vegetables the mother liked, the higher acceptance her infant had. Future findings, if consistent with ours, can lead to early nutrition interventions aimed to increase fruit and vegetable intake, creating a positive path and healthier future.
NoteM.S.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Noteby Neeka Tabatabaei
Genretheses, ETD graduate
Languageeng
CollectionSchool of Graduate Studies Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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