A Taste for Veggies May Start Before Birth

Veggie Tales: Some kids happily snack on broccoli, while others will consume something green only if a parent hides it in a smoothie. New research led by Durham University suggests those early reactions to vegetables may start before birth. Researchers found that 3-year-olds were less likely to react negatively to the smell of vegetables they had been repeatedly exposed to in the womb.

The Study: Researchers followed children from before birth to age 3. During pregnancy, mothers took capsules containing either carrot powder or kale powder in late gestation. Researchers first captured fetal facial reactions using ultrasound at 32 and 36 weeks, then tested the babies again at about 3 weeks old. At age 3, 12 children returned for follow-up, where researchers exposed them to carrot and kale smells and coded their facial reactions.

The Takeaway: Children showed fewer negative facial reactions to the vegetable smell they had been exposed to before birth. That suggests fetuses may form long-lasting flavor or odor memories — and that a mother’s diet during pregnancy could potentially shape how children respond to certain foods later.

Keep in Mind: This was a very small study, focused on only 12 children and two vegetables. It also measured reactions to smell, not whether kids actually ate more vegetables.