Abstract
Objective
Language development, both what is understood (receptive language) and spoken (expressive
language), is considered critical to a child's ability to understand and interact
with their environment. However, little research has investigated the role children's
early language skills might play in their food acceptance. The objective of this study
was to explore the relationships between young children's food-related receptive language
(FRL) and food-related expressive language (FEL) and acceptance of novel food.
Methods
Caregivers (n = 54) reported their perceptions of children's (aged 7–24 months) FRL
and FEL using the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory. Novel food
acceptance was observed (grams consumed) during a laboratory visit. Multivariable
linear regression tested associations between FRL, FEL, and novel food acceptance,
by child age (infants [aged from 7 to < 12 months], toddlers [aged 12–24 months]),
and at a significance level of P < 0.1 for hypothesis-generating research.
Results
Children's FRL and food acceptance differed by age (F = 8.08, P = 0.01). Among toddlers, greater FRL was associated with greater novel food acceptance
(0.22 g [95% confidence interval, −0.04 to 0.49]), P = 0.09). In infants, greater FRL was associated with lower novel food acceptance
(−0.80 g [95% confidence interval, −1.53 to −0.07], P = 0.03). No association between FEL and novel food acceptance was noted in either
group.
Conclusions and Implications
Toddlers’ understanding of food-related vocabulary may facilitate food acceptance;
however, young infants may not yet have sufficient FRL to facilitate novel food acceptance.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 26, 2022
Accepted:
April 6,
2022
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Susan L. Johnson is Senior Associate Editor for the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Review of this article was handled, exclusively, by the Editor-in-Chief to minimize conflict of interest. The remaining authors have not stated any other conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
