Toddlers’ Food Preferences: Concordance with Family Members’ Preferences

Results suggest that the most limiting category related to food preferences were those foods never offered to the child, which included French fries, pizza, potato chips, apple juice, bananas, saltine crackers, spaghetti, biscuits, rolls, and popcorn.

Abstract

To determine the food preferences of toddlers and the concordance with preferences of their family members, 118 children, ages 28 to 36 months, were assessed with a written questionnaire completed by their mothers. The questionnaire included 196 foods commonly eaten across the U.S. Response categories were [food] never offered, never tasted, [child] likes and eats, dislikes but eats, likes but does not eat, and dislikes and does not eat. Similar questionnaires were completed by mothers (n = 117), fathers (n = 96), and an older sibling (n = 47) of the child. Results indicated strong concordance (82.0–83.3%) of food preferences between the child and other family members. Similarity between foods never offered to the child and the mother's dislikes was significant at p = .005. On the average, children had been offered 77.8% of the 196 foods and liked 81.1% of the foods offered to them. Foods liked and eaten by over 95% of the children included French fries, pizza, potato chips, apple juice, bananas, saltine crackers, spaghetti, biscuits, rolls (white), and popcorn. No single food was disliked and not eaten by a majority of the children. Results suggest that the most limiting category related to food preferences were those foods never offered to the child.