Food Neophobia and Nutritional Outcomes in Primary School-Children

Food neophobia, unwillingness to try novel foods, is a personality trait that can influence children's food preferences and consequently their food acceptance and consumption. The purpose of this study was to determine whether children with food neophobia have poor dietary and growth outcomes compared to non-neophobic children. Subjects were 332 primary school children from 6 randomly selected schools in the district of Hulu Selangor, Selangor. Parents and children were interviewed to obtain demographic, socio-economic, food neophobia and dietary intake information. The children were also measured for weights and heights. One-way ANOVA and Chi-square procedures were utilized for statistical data analysis. Children with food neophobia had higher intakes of energy and most nutrients than average and neophilic children. However, only the mean intakes of protein (p < 0.05) , fat (p < 0.05), vitamin A (p < 0.01) and iron (p < 0.01) were significantly higher in neophobic than average or neophilic children. Compared to neophilic and average groups, a higher percentage of neophobic children met 2/3 of the RNIs for energy $(85.2\%)$, protein $(98.4\%)$ and vitamin A $(72.1\%)$. Mean percentage of carbohydrate energy was lowest$(54.8\pm6.6\%)$ while fat energy $(31.8\pm6.2\%)$ was highest among neophobic children. Neophobic group had the lowest percentage of children $(49.2\%)$ with carbohydrate energy > $55\%$ but highest percentage $(50.8\%)$ with fat energy > $30\%$. For the three study groups, the mean number of servings for all food groups, except grain and cereal, did not meet the Food Pyramid recommendations. Neophobic children consumed significantly more numbers of servings from the meat group than average and neophilic groups (p < 0.01). All study groups had relatively low mean dietary diversity scores but neophobic children had the lowest score $(0.67\pm0.73)$ compared to the average $(0.97\pm0.72)$ and neophilic $(1.98\pm0.81)$ groups. Significant difference in mean dietary diversity scores were only observed between neophobic and neophilic children (p<0.05). Higher percentages of neo-phobic children had low weight-for-height and were at-risk of overweight(p < 0.05). Nutrition practitioners need to understand children's food preferences in their efforts to promote healthful diets for children. To improve children's eating behaviors, parents may need the guidance and support from nutritionists and dietitians that are specific to their needs and their child's situation.