Home-made diet gives babies the habit

Infants weaned on home-made casseroles and puddings develop a taste for what is good for them aged seven.

Experts from De Montfort University in Leicester, and the universities of Bristol and Birmingham, analysed data from 7,866 mothers of children born in 1991 and 1992.

The results showed that youngsters who were frequently given home-cooked fruit or vegetables aged six months were more likely to be eating higher amounts of fruit and veg aged seven than those given home-cooked meals less often.

There was no positive effect on later eating habits for babies fed shop-bought meals.

Writing in the journal Public Health Nutrition, the researchers said: “The findings support the concept that exposure to fruit and vegetables is important in the early weaning period.”

Dr Helen Coulthard, from De Montfort University, said mothers should be giving their infants a home-cooked fruit or vegetable every day.

She said: “The range and type of foods that young children eat is becoming an increasing cause for concern.

“In particular, children do not seem to be eating the amounts of fruit and vegetables recommended for health...

“It is interesting that feeding babies ready-prepared fruit and vegetables at six months had no positive effect on later fruit and vegetable consumption.

“This may be due to the fact that infants are fed types of vegetables in ready-prepared foods that the family do not usually eat.

“It may also be that mothers who use ready-prepared foods do not eat as much fruit and vegetables themselves or are more likely to rely on convenience foods.”