(P27-024-25) Effects of Early Exposure to Protein-Rich Complementary Foods on Toddlers Liking and Acceptance: The MINT Study

Objectives: Establishing healthy eating patterns early in life sets the foundation for greater diet diversity and quality. The MINT study is an ongoing RCT that assesses the effects of protein-rich complementary diets on infant growth. The current project aims to understand how early exposure to protein-rich foods affects toddlers’ acceptance of these foods.

Methods: Sixty-eight infants and their caregivers participated in a larger dietary intervention in which they were randomly assigned to consume one of three protein-rich diets (dairy [N=18], meat [N=18], or plant-based [N=16] foods) or an ad libitum diet (Ad Lib, N=16) from 5-12 months. Between 18-24 months, caregivers completed a survey about the child’s frequency of exposure to and liking of three protein-rich foods (cheddar cheese, turkey, and black beans), aligning with the diets of the intervention groups. A behavioral session followed that assessed children’s acceptance of these foods by measuring consumption. Preliminary analyses involved a series of 4 (group) x 3 (food) repeated measures analyses.

Results: Of the 68 caregivers (90% mothers), 90% were married or partnered, and 63% had an annual family income exceeding $100,000. Toddlers (54% girls) were 19.7 months of age (SD = 2.5), and 73% were breastfed for at least 6 months. Those in the Ad Lib group tended to be introduced to turkey later (Ps < 0.1) than the intervention groups. At the time of the survey, all groups were fed cheese more frequently than turkey or beans (P < 0.001), and caregivers reported that children liked cheese more than turkey and beans (P < 0.001). However, those in the Dairy and Meat groups were reported to like cheese less than the Ad Lib group (P < 0.05) and those in the intervention groups liked beans more than the Ad Lib group (P < 0.05). During the behavioral session, children consumed more cheese than turkey or beans (P < 0.001), and those in the Ad Lib group consumed less food overall than the other groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Children tend to like and consume cheese, perhaps due to its high fat and salt content, more than other protein-rich foods. Despite this preference, children in the intervention groups liked beans more and consumed more of the protein-rich foods than children in the Ad Lib group, indicating that early exposure may encourage greater acceptance of these foods over time.

Funding Sources: NIDDK, National Dairy Council