Dads As Influential As Moms In Kids’ Food Choices
CREAMERY (Montgomery
Co.) Most of us know that the
bedrock of sound nutrition is eat
ing a variety of foods, yet encour
aging our children to develop
eclectic taste is no simple matter.
Because women have traditionally
chosen and prepared the family
meals, we tend to think that
mothers exert the strongest influ
ence over their children’s food
preferences. Not so, according to
Annette doodling from Penn State
Cooperative Extension.
In a study of 500 elementary
school children and their parents,
fathers are at least as important as
mothers as role models in deter
mining the foods children will try
and perhaps come to like. There is
as much similarity between the
m
THE CONSERVATIONIST.
The proven Great Plains no-till system utilizes a
coulter to prepare a mini-conventional seedbed
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Great Haim
We lead because we listen.
Dunkle & Grieb, Inc.
R.D. 2 BOX 14
Center Hall, PA 16828
814-364-1421
Reed Brothers Equipment
13 Petticoat Bridge Road
Columbus, NJ 08022
609-267-3363
Hines Equipment
Rt. 28 West, Cresson, PA 16630
814-886-4183
and
Rt. 220, Belwood, PA
814-742-8171
food preferences of fathers and
their children as there is between
mothers and their children. Like
wise, a father’s knowledge of
nutrition is as much a determinant
of how much children know about
nutrition as is their mother’s.
And, contrary to popular belief,
when parents were given a brief
nutrition knowledge test, fathers
have just about as much know
ledge on the subject as mothers.
Other studies from the
research group have found that
sven though both parents were
squally informed about good
nutrition, mothers who still do
most of the cooking expressed
soncetn about the nutritional val
ue of the foods their children eat
Working mothers said they felt
guilty that they weren’t making
lie kinds of meals they grew up
with. Yet there is no evidence that
heir childhood meals were more
mtritious than the ones they’re
ierving their families today. Inter
istingly, mothers and fathers alike
See The Dependable Great Plains Dealers Listed Below:
reported that they “felt better”
when they “ate better.” They attri
buted this to both physiological
uid psychological reasons. One of
he psychological reasons was that
they felt they were doing better by
their kids. Perhaps it’s time to give
dads credit for the powerful role
they have in influencing their
children’s eating habits. Whether
a father will eat or not eat certain
foods, the comments he makes
about them, his non-verbal reac
tion, and his general attitude tow
ard trying new foods make their
mark at the dinner table. One
strategy to consider is for parents
to form an alliance to encourage
adventurous eating. “Remember,”
says Goodling, “it’s not only a
matter of serving a variety of
foods but also of setting a good
example by eating a broad range
of foods and showing an interest
in trying new ones.”
There’s also truth in the adage
that enjoying specific foods is an
Lost Creek Implement, Inc.
Rt. 35
Oakland Mills, PA
717-463-2161
D & E Equipment
307 Edgar Avenue
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
717-784-5217
C.B. Hoober & Sons, Inc.
Old Philadelphia Pike
Intercourse, PA 17534
717-768-8231
Norman D. Clark & Sons
Main Street, P.O. Box 27
Honey Grove, PA 17035
717-734-3682
drives for transport.
“acquired taste.” Research studies
suggest that children need to try a
new food as many as 10 times
before they learn to like it In spite
of the hectic pace most families
maintain, 95 percent of the
mothers and 82 percent of the
fathers surveyed always or almost
Allied Milk Producers
(ConUntwd from Pago B 14)
President Rose’s remarks at the
dinner dealt mostly with the con
troversial BST issue. He told the
dairy fanners in attendance, “If
you’re gonna’ use BST, you better
promote with greater effort your
product” He said there’s a cau
tious feeling about BST in the
Allied Cooperative.
Comprising Allied’s board of
directors, besides Rose in Indiana
Co. are Fred Shankle, Bedford Co.
vice-president; Lowell Fricdline,
Somerset Co. secretary; Janice
Lidwell, Cambria Co. treasurer;
Stouffer Brothers, Inc.
1066 Lincoln Way West
Chambersburg, PA 17201
717-263-8424
Lehigh Ag Equipment, Inc.
Allentown, PA 18106
215-398-2553
Deerfield Ag & Turf
Watsontown Exit of MBO
Watsontown, PA 17777
717-538-3557
Uncwnr Fanrtng, Saturday, April 16,1994-817
always ate dinner with their child
ren. Using the evening meal as an
opportunity to make a variety of
new foods available in an atmo
sphere that encourages everyone
to try them will do much to
broaden children’s food
preferences.
Robot Beatty, Indiana Co.; Dave
W. Myers, Cambria Co.; and Mar
vin Thomas, Somerset Co.
Complimenting the filled pork
chop dinner served by the Good
Cheer Club, were dairy appetizers
made by Naugle. They were slices
from “Cheesie Roll”, and index
cards with the recipe woe free for
the taking at each table.
Kathy Hostetler, Cambria
County extension agent served as
mistress of ceremonies during the
evening.
Approximately 250 persons
were in attendance.