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Current Nutrition Reports
Published in: Current Nutrition Reports 2/2017

Open Access 01-06-2017 | Food Acceptance and Nutrition in Infants and Young Children (H Coulthard, Section Editor)

Are There Sensitive Periods for Food Acceptance in Infancy?

Authors: Gillian Harris, Sarah Mason

Published in: Current Nutrition Reports | Issue 2/2017

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

A sensitive period in development is one in which it is easier for learning to take place; the behaviour can however still be learned at a later stage, but with more difficulty. This is in contrast to a critical period, a time at which a behaviour must be learned, and if this window of opportunity is missed, then the behaviour can never be acquired. Both might determine food acceptance in childhood.

Recent Findings

There is evidence to support the idea of a sensitive period for the introduction of tastes, a critical period for the introduction of textures and for the development of oral motor function, and a possible critical period for the introduction of new foods but only in children where there is an innate disposition to develop early and extreme disgust responses.

Summary

There are both sensitive and critical periods in the acquisition of food preferences.
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Metadata
Title
Are There Sensitive Periods for Food Acceptance in Infancy?
Authors
Gillian Harris
Sarah Mason
Publication date
01-06-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Nutrition Reports / Issue 2/2017
Electronic ISSN: 2161-3311
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-017-0203-0

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