Abstract

This study was aimed at examine eating behavior and food preferences of children in preschool nursery facilities. A survey was conducted on parents using questionnaires including general characteristics, eating behavior, and food habits at home and food preferences of children in 6 nursery facilities. The children involved in this study were 150 boys and 154 girls, aged 1 to 7 years old. Sixty three percent(187 children) of the children were on 'regular' meal times, and 37.0%(110 children) were on 'irregular' meal times. The major reason for their irregular meal times were 'their' concentration on other tasks'(26.6%) and 'no appetite'(25.5%). The meal eaten best by children was 'dinner' while that eaten worst was 'breakfast'. The major type of their eating habit problem was 'unbalanced diet'(62.1%), and their mothers' response to the unbalanced diet was 'trying to persuade the child'(71.6%). The number of snacks at home was one or twice a day(97.3%), and 'preference'(67.8%) was the main reason for selecting particular snacks. Their preferred staple foods were 'cooked rice with meat & vegetables and Chinese noodles', and 'noodles with bean sauce', and their preferred soup was 'seaweed soup' Also, their most preferred meat dishes were 'fried chicken' and 'thin sliced barbecued beef. Children preferred side dishes with animal foods to those with vegetable foods. Since children liked mixed dishes, it seems desirable to introduce foods which children dislike as ingredients in mixed dishes.

• Keywords: eating behavior; food preference; food attitude; preschool children