Toddler Tastes for Dietary Behavior

(TTS Trial)

Overseen By Stephanie Anzman-Frasca, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: State University of New York at Buffalo

Disqualifiers: Physical, mental health conditions, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 11

40 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores new ways to help toddlers become more open to trying and liking vegetables. Researchers are testing two methods: pairing vegetables with a tasty dip (associative conditioning) and having parents and kids try vegetables together (modeling). The goal is to determine which method is more effective and whether toddlers' enjoyment and intake of these foods increase over time. This trial may suit families with toddlers aged 18 to 36 months who are particularly fussy about food. As an unphased study, it offers families the chance to contribute to research that could make mealtime more enjoyable for picky eaters.

Do I need to stop my child's current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking current medications. It seems focused on food preferences, so it's unlikely that medications would need to be stopped, but please check with the trial organizers to be sure.

What prior data suggests that these food preference learning approaches are safe for toddlers?

Research shows that both associative conditioning and modeling safely and effectively help children eat more vegetables. Studies have found that children are more willing to eat vegetables when they try them with a dip they like. This method has been used successfully in many places without harmful effects. Similarly, modeling, where parents eat vegetables with their children, positively influences children's eating habits and is considered safe. Parents significantly shape their children's food preferences, and their involvement during meals can have a positive impact. No serious side effects have been linked to either approach, making them promising methods for encouraging healthier eating in children. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these approaches because they offer a fun, interactive way to help toddlers develop healthier eating habits. Unlike traditional methods that might focus on direct instruction or rewards, associative conditioning uses the natural appeal of dips to make vegetables more enjoyable. Meanwhile, the modeling approach leverages the powerful influence of parents by having them taste and show enthusiasm for vegetables alongside their child. Both methods aim to create positive, lasting associations with healthy foods, potentially making these strategies a game-changer in promoting lifelong healthy eating behaviors.

What evidence suggests that these food preference learning approaches are effective for increasing toddlers' liking and intake of vegetables?

This trial will compare two methods to encourage toddlers to enjoy eating vegetables: associative conditioning and modeling. Research has shown that both learning by association and imitation can help children enjoy vegetables. In the associative conditioning arm, children will taste vegetables with palatable dips. Evidence suggests this can increase their liking for veggies, although the exact impact of using dips isn't fully proven yet. In the modeling arm, children will taste vegetables alongside their parents, who will model enjoyment of the vegetables. Studies have found that when parents eat vegetables with their children, it greatly encourages healthy eating habits. Children often imitate their parents' eating habits, which can lead to a better overall diet. Both methods aim to make vegetables more appealing to children, but imitating parents has strong support for improving children's eating habits. ^{2 4 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

The Toddler Tastes Study is for toddlers who are picky eaters and come from low-income families. The study aims to find new ways to help these kids like vegetables more by trying two different methods over a month.

Inclusion Criteria

Family has annual household income that is less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty line

Child is high on food fussiness, defined as a 2.5 or above on the food fussiness scale of the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire for toddlers

I am the main person taking care of the child.

Exclusion Criteria

Child is diagnosed with a physical or mental health condition that precludes safe or feasible participation

The parent/guardian participating is not the primary caregiver of the child

Family has annual household income that is greater than 200% of the federal poverty line

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Baseline Assessment

Baseline laboratory visit where informed consent is obtained, and initial assessments of children's liking and intake of vegetables are conducted.

1 hour

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Participants undergo 4 weeks of intervention with 8 vegetable tastings, either through associative conditioning or modeling.

4 weeks

8 tastings (at home)

Post-intervention Assessment

Post-intervention laboratory visit to assess changes in children's liking and intake of vegetables, and conduct parent interviews.

1 hour

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any additional feedback and long-term effects of the intervention.

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Associative conditioning
• Modeling

Trial Overview This trial tests two food preference learning approaches: associative conditioning, where toddlers try veggies with tasty dips; and modeling, where they eat veggies together with their parents. Progress will be checked before and after the four-week period.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Modeling (Parent and Me tastings) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Child is offered a vegetable to taste while their parent/caregiver also tastes it and models enjoying it, over 8 occasions. Tastings occur at home with the parent serving and tasting the vegetable following standard scripting.

Group II: Associative conditioning (Veggie and Dip tastings) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Child is offered a vegetable to taste with a palatable dip, over 8 occasions. Tastings occur at home with the parent serving the vegetable and following standard scripting.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

State University of New York at Buffalo

Lead Sponsor

Trials

279

Recruited

52,600+

National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

Collaborator

Trials

394

Recruited

404,000+

Citations

1. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195666311006416

Repeated exposure and associative conditioning promote ... In both experiments, children's vegetable liking increased from pre- to post-test, but there was no evidence of associative conditioning effects. Increases in ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-dietary-behavior-2-2025-485df

Toddler Tastes for Dietary Behavior (TTS Trial) Trial Overview This trial tests two food preference learning approaches: associative conditioning, where toddlers try veggies with tasty dips; and modeling, ...

3. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/323348/toddler-tastes-study/

Toddler Tastes Study | Clinical Research Trial Listing ( Dietary ... The study is a two-group randomized controlled trial. Families will be randomized to 1 of 2 study groups: associative conditioning, or the child tasting ...

4. jandonline.org jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(14)00459-6/abstract

The Use of Repeated Exposure and Associative ... One of the most frequently asked questions by parents is, “How can I get my child to eat more vegetables?” Despite all their health benefits, vegetables are the ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5829121/

Developing Healthy Food Preferences in Preschool Children ... Overall, taste exposure interventions yielded the best outcomes for increasing vegetable intake in early childhood. Evidence from sensory ...

6. hhd.psu.edu hhd.psu.edu/sites/default/files/media/nutrition/childrens-eating-lab/files/2014repeatedexposure.pdf

The Use of Repeated Exposure and Associative ... Other studies have used sweetness10 or yogurt-based dips11,12 to increase vegetable acceptance or intake in children. An important limitation to ...

7. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22120062/

Repeated exposure and associative conditioning promote ... In both experiments, children's vegetable liking increased from pre- to post-test, but there was no evidence of associative conditioning effects ...

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195666321003792

How to promote healthy eating in preschool children This study investigated how associating fruits and vegetables with positive, non-food stimuli influences preschool children's food choice and consumption.