Research suggests that, despite its evidential success, repeatedly
offering children foods to taste is not a technique widely used
by parents at home; 80% of caregivers are only prepared to offer their
child a new food three or four times before they will decide that
their child does not like it, on the basis of the child’s ‘bothersome
behavior’ (Carruth, Ziegler, Gordon, & Barr, 2004). Parents may find
it easier to provide repeated exposure to the non-taste properties
of foods, especially if this occurs outside mealtimes in an environment
that does not carry the stress associated with ensuring that
the child is consuming a healthy diet. There is therefore value in
exploring the potential for non-taste familiarization to facilitate the
introduction of new foods.
Nursery schools in the UK are increasingly signing up to multisensory
activity programs that seek to encourage healthy eating by