Food aversions and dietary preferences in pre-school children from Olsztyn

Background: The nutrition of pre-school children often does not follow the recommendations, and qualitatively and quantitatively limited selection of products in the diet shapes an attitude of aversion towards new products and dishes. The risk of deficiencies in many important nutrients emerges, particularly in vitamins and mineral components, which can affect the psychophysical development of the child and have an impact on nutritional status and health disorders in adulthood.

Objective: Study of dietary preferences in pre-school children and identify possible food aversions.

Material and methods: Nutritional preferences of pre-school children in Olsztyn were examined using a questionnaire prepared in a graphic form, presenting images of 40 food products classified into 5 groups, and the acceptance level and knowledge of the product was established.

Results: The values of Cole’s index proving the proper nutritional status of pre-school children were obtained for about 87% of the examined group, excessive nutrition was observed in more than 4% of the examined group, about 2% of the group demonstrated obesity and mild malnutrition was observed in about 7% of the examined children. A high acceptance rate of sweets and fast-food products by children was observed. A high degree of preference for milk was recorded, as well as traditional and cognitive aversion for kefir. In the group of fruit and vegetables, both a high degree of preference and aversions to all indicated vegetables and fruit were observed. Taste determined the results, with high acceptance for the sweet taste and rejection or a neutral attitude towards sour and bitter products.

Conclusions: Food aversions, by reducing the intake of food products, can result in nutritional deficiencies, affecting the psychosomatic development and cognitive abilities of the child. Traditional and cognitive food aversions was observed towards kefir, cheeses and most of vegetables. A high level of preference was observed in relation towards sweet and fast food products and a low acceptance level for selected vegetables, fruits and dairy products.