Factors influencing food preferences according Mayan schoolchildren

Abstract

Building preferences and habits in school stage influences the way of feeding lifetime. Its construction is complex and involves various factors. Among them, the familiarity plays a very important role. Among the different types of familiarity, that related to the taste has been widely reported in studies with children from urban areas of industrialized countries. Whereas in rural areas, the availability and access to a variety of foods can influence more on familiarity, and Yucatan is one of the states that best illustrates the complex process of nutritional transition, we conducted a study with 5th grade Mayan children of a rural community. We present results on the reasons underlying the pleasure to food, according to the children. The taste was the most frequently mentioned reason, with the exception of fruit and tortillas. The fritters were rated as harmful, but not soft drinks and processed juices. The results are discussed considering the relationship of flavor, contextual and categorical familiarity and the availability and access to food, and the need for more research of this type as a basis for developing nutrition interventions, based on the experiences and participation of children in food familiarization activities and consumed available locally.