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

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.