Tired of fighting with your little one to get them to eat their broccoli? Try putting them in front of a TV cooking show. New research shows that kids are twice as likely to choose healthy snacks for themselves after watching cooking shows that feature nutritious food.
A new study from the Netherlands finds that kids who watched child-oriented cooking shows highlighting healthy foods were 2.7-times more likely to make a healthy food choice than those who watched a different episode of the same show, but featuring unhealthy food. In this case, the “healthy” options were apples or cucumber slices, while the “unhealthy” choices were chips or mini pretzels.
Researchers say healthy cooking programs can be “a promising tool for promoting positive changes in children’s food-related preferences, attitudes, and behaviors.” The study also points out that kids are more likely to eat nutritious food if they’re involved in preparing it, which is a skill they can use as they grow up.
Source:People