Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
04:56
Assessment of Social Transmission of Food Preferences Behaviors
Published on: January 25, 2018
Using positive social influences to increase children's vegetable intake
Katie L Edwards1, Suzanne Higgs1
1School of Psychology, https://ror.org/03angcq70University of Birmingham, UK.
The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
|July 3, 2026
Summary
Positive social influences during mealtimes significantly boost children's vegetable intake. Understanding individual and household factors is key for effective nutrition interventions promoting healthy eating habits.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Child Development
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Most children do not meet vegetable intake recommendations, despite known health benefits.
- Early childhood is crucial for establishing lifelong eating patterns.
- Social eating experiences significantly influence children's dietary habits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence on how positive social influences impact children's vegetable consumption.
- To identify factors influencing the effectiveness of social eating environments.
- To highlight intervention opportunities and research needs.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing research on social influences and children's vegetable intake.
- Synthesis of findings related to shared eating occasions, atmosphere, modeling, and facilitation.
- Consideration of individual differences and household characteristics.
Main Results:
- Positive social experiences, including shared meals and positive atmospheres, enhance vegetable intake.
- Individual factors (eating behaviors) and household characteristics (SES, food insecurity, chaos) mediate intervention effectiveness.
- Social influences are a powerful tool for shaping healthy dietary behavior in children.
Conclusions:
- Positive social influences hold significant potential for increasing children's vegetable consumption.
- Tailored, socially-grounded nutrition interventions are needed.
- Further longitudinal research is essential to understand developmental trajectories of social eating processes.
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