New Study: Kids Prefer Vegetables Over Candy

My daughter just asked me what her father and I were talking about. I told her we were talking about a new study that says kids like vegetables over candy. She said, “No, they don’t!”.  A new study released by First 5 California claims just that!

Contrary to popular belief, a new study released by First 5 California found that parents don’t need to sneak fruits and vegetables into their children’s meals – kids say they actually like them!

Interviews with more than 100 preschoolers across California revealed that kids not only know it’s important to eat fruits and vegetables, they frequently prefer them to candy.

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Kelton Research, a national polling firm, conducted interviews in English and Spanish with over 100 four- and five-year-olds.  The research proved kids know why it is important to eat fruits and vegetables, and that they frequently prefer them over candy.

“While there has been a lot of research on barriers to childhood nutrition, this study dispels the myth that kids are predisposed to dislike healthy foods,” explains Kris Perry, executive director of state agency First 5 California.

In my experience as a mother and a preschool teacher, children eat what they are fed.  If a child grows up eating fresh food, especially if they have an organic garden, they will crave fruits and vegetables.  If kids are fed mostly junk, then that is what they will gravitate towards.  When I ask my daughter what she wants for dinner, the tried and true response is kale and Jerusalem artichokes. These are two foods I never ate until I became a gardener in my adult life.  Parents have to be responsible about eating healthy first, then they can be role models and only stock nutritious food in the house.  My friend, a pediatric nurse practitioner, often tells the story of a mother who complained her three-year-old son would only eat potato chips. My friend responded, “Does your son do the grocery shopping?”

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