Dupe your kids with ‘bite-sized’ snacks

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Source: AAP

Children are more likely to eat food they don't like if it's "bite-sized," research shows.

Tests have been carried out on 242 Australian children, aged 7 to 12, to find out their eating preference based on shape, flavour and repeated eating.

Biscuits were offered in varying sizes, also ranging from sweet to sour, in an experiment that ran over three weeks.

Nutritionist Dr Gie Liem said it showed children were more likely to turn-off larger "bar-shaped" foods, and shape could even overrule taste.

"Small, nibble-shaped snacks remained stable in liking, whereas large, bar-shaped snacks with the same flavour decreased in liking," said Dr Liem, nutritionist at the Deakin University School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences.

"Flavour did not significantly influence liking and desire over time."

Dr Liem said the findings were "important in terms of influencing healthy food choices for children based on what they like".

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