Affinity for Green Veggies Starts in the Womb

If you're a mom who can't get your kids to eat broccoli, it may be because you didn't eat it while they were in the womb. A new study has found that children are more likely to eat nutritious, but unappetizing foods, such as Brussels sprouts and other bitter greens, if their mothers ate them during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

According to researchers at Philadelphia's Monell Chemical Senses Center, expecting and nursing moms should be vigilant to eat right so that their children get hooked early on these 'yuck' foods--and therefore, save the family from numerous mealtime battles later on.

“Flavors from the mother’s diet are transmitted through amniotic fluid and mother’s milk. A baby learns to like a food’s taste when the mother eats that food on a regular basis,” said lead researcher Julie Mennella, as reported in Times Online.

Researchers also found the same result when expecting or nursing mothers drank carrot juice or ate peaches and green beans.

Of course, if your kids are well past the womb and breastfeeding stages, all hope is not lost. A 2003 study found that children exposed daily to those unappealing veggies can still strike a liking to them.

Related Article: Mother's Laughter Makes Breast Milk Healthier for Baby