In many children there is an innate refusal to try new foods, a phenomenon called food neophobia or “omnivore paradox.” And it is that despite the fact that humans need a varied diet and we are able to adapt to any diet, this tendency to consider many ingredients a threat is observed.
An investigation carried out at the University of the Basque Country (Spain), in boys and girls between 8 and 16 years old, has concluded that neophobic participants have greater anxiety and lower self-esteem, in addition, this fear of trying different foods can even become usual in adulthood. In the study, they used child neophobia questionnaires in which children were asked about their willingness to eat new foods.
On the other hand, different data were taken on the body composition of the participants, as well as on their lifestyle (diet and physical exercise, for example), parental eating styles, and psychological variables (self-esteem and anxiety). “We have found statistically significant differences in many variables,” explains the researcher at the University’s School of Psychology, Edurne Maiz.
As the study authors explain, the blame for this rejection of the new food sometimes falls on the parents. In general, they tend to control what, how much and when their children eat, putting pressure on them to try new foods. This pressure exerted, which is due to the frustration that the parents have in rejecting food, can negatively affect the emotional state of the boy or girl, and is also associated with higher levels of neophobia. However, “that control from the beginning turns into resignation, and it is that parental suffering is also present in all this,” said Maiz meals.
If anxiety and low self-esteem were little, the neophobic tendency can have negative dietary consequences , in that it reduces the variety of foods eaten. Neophobics have a lower quality index of the Mediterranean diet, and this is mainly due to a lower consumption of fruits and vegetables and an increase in foods recommended by experts only for occasional consumption.
The researcher has concluded that to avoid this problem it is important to have a strong parental bond with the children, as well as to create a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere at mealtime, so that the little ones participate in the purchase and preparation of it . Also, remember the importance of “positive reinforcement and being a good role model.”
