- New research has revealed that young children are more likely to react positively to the scent of vegetables if they were regularly exposed to them while still in the womb.
- A long-running study, spearheaded by Durham University, meticulously analysed the reactions of three-year-olds to the smells of carrots and kale, following up on earlier studies where mothers consumed carrot or kale capsules during late pregnancy.
- The research found that three-year-olds whose mothers had taken carrot powder capsules during pregnancy displayed less negative reactions to the smell of carrots, with similar favourable reactions observed for kale.
- Experts suggest these extended findings indicate that young children retain a memory of the flavour and odour of foods encountered in late pregnancy, potentially shaping their food preferences years after birth.
- Researchers recommend that mothers-to-be maintain a rich, varied diet incorporating diverse fruits and vegetables, while acknowledging the study's small sample size of 12 three-year-olds.
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