Food neophobia, Mediterranean diet adherence and acceptance of healthy foods prepared in gastronomic workshops by Spanish students

Abstract Introduction: food neophobia can affect dietary variety and hedonic acceptance due to rejection of healthy foods. Objective: to evaluate the impact of dietary neophobia on adherence to the Mediterranean diet and on the hedonic acceptance of healthy foods made in gastronomic workshops by schoolchildren. Methodology: descriptive cross-sectional study of Primary (8-11) and Secondary (12-18) schoolchildren from Murcia, Spain, participating in gastronomic workshops, where two recipes were prepared and tasted (vegetables + blue fish and fruits). Food neophobia (FN) and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (KIDMED) were identified and each participant assessed the acceptance of each recipe using a hedonic scale (seven points). Results: a total of 1,491 students (49.5% girls) participated in the study; 13.5% were neophobic and 61.1% presented optimal diet quality. A linear inverse relationship between the degree of neophobia and the quality of the diet (&#961; [rho] = -0.31, p = 0.001) was found. High adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with lower neophobia and better hedonic scores, compared to intermediate or low adhesions (p < 0.0001). Neophobic schoolchildren presented significantly worse results in vegetable consumption, especially at the Secondary level, and in the acceptance of healthy preparations (p < 0.05). A good acceptance of the prepared preparations was associated with the usual adequate consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish and legumes. Conclusion: food neophobia affects the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the acceptance of healthy foods elaborated in gastronomic workshops by Spanish schoolchildren.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Rodríguez-Tadeo,Alejandra, Patiño-Villena,Begoña, González-Martínez-La-Cuesta,Eduardo, Urquídez-Romero,René, Ros-Berruezo,Gaspar
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Grupo Arán 2018
Online Access:	http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0212-16112018000300642
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