FACIAL HEDONIC SCALE ADAPTATION TO MEASURE FOOD PREFERENCES AMONG PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Author(s)

Semíramis Martins Álvares D ^[1] ; Julián Zapico T ^[2] ; José Augusto de Aguiar Carrazedo T ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] PUC-Campinas. Centro de Ciências da Vida. Faculdade de Nutrição - Brasil

^[2] Universidad de León. Facultad de Veterinaria - Brasil

^[3] UNIFESP. EPM - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Rev. chil. nutr.; v. 35, n. 1, p. 38-42, 2008-03-00.

Abstract

The assessment of food acceptance during childhood is useful to provide educational guidelines. Scanty research has been done to validate hedonic facial scales for testing pre-school age children. Sensory tests were conducted in 292 4 to 6 year old preschool age children with high (A) and low family income from a poor areas (B), using good tasting food (b) and food with modified flavor (d). Food preference was assessed to validate the three point hedonic facial scale designed to identify gender differences. By weighting the food rejected, a 10% amount was considered as a limit for food acceptance. Results showed that there is a correlation between food acceptance and level of satisfaction (Ab, p = 0,033; Ad, p < 0,001), but no correlation was detected with children from poor areas (Bb, p = 0,325 and Bd, p = 0,086). The hedonic facial scale must be improved in order to effectively assess preschool preferences (AU)