Presentation of food can boost child’s appetite
New Delhi, Sep 05 (ANI): According to a new research, children have different preferences for how food should be arranged, depending on their gender and age. The aim of the research from Future Consumer Lab was to examine whether children prefer their food served in a particular way and whether their gender and age make a difference in relation to their preferences. Eating habits of children is a matter of concern for parents. Hence, the research can also be used to optimize meal programmes in schools and meals that are delivered to pupils by external suppliers. We can get children to eat more fruits and vegetables just by presenting them in small portions and making them freely available, so you can easily grab them and eat them. However, the visual presentation of food makes a huge difference in how much children may eat. The researchers asked 100 school children, aged 7 to 8 and 12 to 14 years, to make a priority list of photos of six different dishes served in three different ways including, the elements of the food presented separately so they did not touch each other, as a mix of separate ingredients and ingredients that were mixed together, and all the food mixed together. From the children’s prioritization of the displayed photos, the researchers found out which presentation of the food they liked best and which serving style they least cared for. The study shows that the younger girls (aged 7-8) prefer the separate serving style, while boys of the same age do not have a preference for how the food is arranged. The research also shows that children between 12 and 14 years of age prefer food to be either mixed together or served as a mix of separate and mixed-together ingredients. Based on the research, it was advised that food should be served separated on the plate, at least when it comes to the younger age groups.
