Do food-related experiences in the first 2 years of life predict dietary variety in school-aged children?
OBJECTIVE: To determine if food-related experiences in the first 2 years of life predict dietary variety in school-aged children. DESIGN/SETTING: Child/mother pairs were interviewed 7 or 8 times when children were 2 to 24 months using a randomized incomplete block design to schedule interviews. Each child/mother pair was interviewed when the child was ages 6, 7, and 8 years. PARTICIPANTS: Child/mother pairs (n = 70) were continuous participants in the longitudinal study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dependent variables were children’s vegetable and fruit dietary variety, assessed from 3 days of dietary data at ages 6, 7, and 8 years. Independent variables from the first 2 years of life were selected from the longitudinal data set. ANALYSES: General linear models. Adjustments for age that vegetables (or fruits) were introduced in the diet. RESULTS: Vegetable variety in the school-aged child was predicted by mother’s vegetable preferences, R2 =.084. Fruit variety in the school-aged child was p
