Why Kids Like Sweets

Why do kids of all cultures love sweet-tasting foods compared to adults? Here's a hint...it has to do with growing like a weed. New research from the University of Washington and the Monell Chemical Senses Center indicates that this preference for sweets is based in human biology and is related to the high growth rate in children.

This does actually make sense because when growth is rapid, the body's calorie demands do similarly increase and the programmed preference for sweet foods will point kids in the direction of high calorie foods.

The researchers looked at sweet preference and biological measures of growth and physical maturation in 143 children between the ages of 11 and 15. The findings, reported in the journal Physiology & Behavior, suggest that keen preference for sweet foods is related to their high growth rate and that as children's growth slows and eventually stops, their preference for sweets likewise declines.

At least we know part of the reason why children seem to gravitate toward sweets...now how do we explain why many grown ups still have their sweet tooth?

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Non-Candy Halloween Options

Be the non-Snickers house this Halloween!

Photo Credit: Elaine Magee

You just know plenty of your neighbors will be passing out the predictable Snickers and Milky Way bars, so it leaves the window wide open for you to offer something refreshingly different this Halloween.

Each year I look for desirable snack packs (that aren't too high in calories, fat or sugar) that the kids can put in their school lunch bags or boxes for something a little different. This year I found snack-size bags of pretzels, popcorn, and flavored mini rice cakes.

And if you have a lot of preteens and teens that trick or treat in your neighborhood, I can guarantee that packages of gum will go over really well with this discerning group. You can find 10-packs of sugar-less gum at places like Target for about $2.50, which computes to about 25 cents a pop. And speaking of 25 cents a pop... handing out quarters also seems to go over well with kids old enough to save up for their own toys and treats. If you want to have some mini toys for the littler ones, you can find all kinds of fun things at your nearest party store (like bouncy balls, miniature games, or glow stick necklaces).

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Do Food Commercials Make You Eat More?

If you've ever wondered if watching advertisements for assorted types of processed food products encourages children to eat more, some research suggests your suspicions are more than warranted.

Researchers from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom, exposed 60 children between age 9 and 11, of varying weights, to both food advertisements and toy advertisement, followed by a cartoon and free food.

More food was eaten after the food advertisements than after the commercials for toys. Interestingly the obese children increased their consumption of food the most (134%) compared to overweight children (101%) and normal weight children (84%).

First of all, I'm not surprised by these results. That is the whole point of food advertising, isn't it? To encourage consumption of the product? If it didn't work, why would food and beverage companies continue to spend millions on advertising? It does appear, though, that obese and overweight children are particularly vulnerable to this and that in itself is alarming and worth noting to appropriate government agencies.

~~Elaine

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• Children and Media
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