Based on the results of various studies discussed in Chapter 10, discuss some of the practical applications of child-feeding research.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Examples include:? Parents should respond appropriately to children's hunger and satiety signals.? Parents should focus on the long-term goal of developing healthy self-controls of eating in children and should look beyond their concerns regarding composition and quantity of foods children consume or fears that children may eat too much and become overweight.? Parents should not attempt to control children’s food intakes by attaching contingencies ("No dessert until you finish your rutabagas") and coercive practices ("Clean your plate, children in Bangladesh are starving").? Parents should be cautioned not to severely restrict "junk foods," foods high in fat and sugar, as that may make these foods even more desirable to the child.? Parental influence should be positively focused on the child developing food preferences and selection patterns of a variety of foods consistent with a healthy diet. Parental modeling of eating a varied diet at family mealtime will have a strong influence on children.? Children have an unlearned preference for sweet and slightly salty tastes; they tend to dislike bitter, sour, and spicy foods.? Children tend to be wary of new foods and tastes, and it may take repeated exposures to new foods before these are accepted.? Children need to be served appropriate child-sized servings of food.? Child feeding experiences should take place in secure, happy, and positive environments with adult supervision.? Children should never be forced to eat anything.