Food neophobia, Mediterranean diet adherence and acceptance of healthy foods prepared in gastronomic workshops by Spanish students.

INTRODUCTION: food neophobia can affect dietary variety and hedonic acceptance due to rejection of healthy foods. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the impact of dietary neophobia on adherence to the Mediterranean diet and on the hedonic acceptance of healthy foods made in gastronomic workshops by schoolchildren. METHODOLOGY: descriptive cross-sectional study of Primary (8-11) and Secondary (12-18) schoolchildren from Murcia, Spain, participating in gastronomic workshops, where two recipes were prepared and tasted (vegetables + blue fish and fruits). Food neophobia (FN) and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (KIDMED) were identified and each participant assessed the acceptance of each recipe using a hedonic scale (seven points). RESULTS: a total of 1,491 students (49.5% girls) participated in the study; 13.5% were neophobic and 61.1% presented optimal diet quality. A linear inverse relationship between the degree of neophobia and the quality of the diet (ρ[rho] = -0.31, p = 0.001) was found. High adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with lower neophobia and better hedonic scores, compared to intermediate or low adhesions (p < 0.0001). Neophobic schoolchildren presented significantly worse results in vegetable consumption, especially at the Secondary level, and in the acceptance of healthy preparations (p < 0.05). A good acceptance of the prepared preparations was associated with the usual adequate consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish and legumes. CONCLUSION: food neophobia affects the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the acceptance of healthy foods elaborated in gastronomic workshops by Spanish schoolchildren.

Food neophobia, mediterranean diet adherence and acceptance of healthy foods prepared in gastronomic workshops by spanish students / Neofobia alimentaria, adhesión de la dieta mediterránea y aceptación de alimentos saludables preparados en talleres gastronómicos por estudiantes españoles

Introduction: food neophobia can affect dietary variety and hedonic acceptance due to rejection of healthy foods. Objective: to evaluate the impact of dietary neophobia on adherence to the Mediterranean diet and on the hedonic acceptance of healthy foods made in gastronomic workshops by schoolchildren. Methodology: descriptive cross-sectional study of Primary (8-11) and Secondary (12-18) schoolchildren from Murcia, Spain, participating in gastronomic workshops, where two recipes were prepared and tasted (vegetables + blue fish and fruits). Food neophobia (FN) and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (KIDMED) were identified and each participant assessed the acceptance of each recipe using a hedonic scale (seven points).Results: a total of 1,491 students (49.5% girls) participated in the study; 13.5% were neophobic and 61.1% presented optimal diet quality. A linear inverse relationship between the degree of neophobia and the quality of the diet (ρ[rho] = -0.31, p = 0.001) was found. High adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with lower neophobia and better hedonic scores, compared to intermediate or low adhesions (p < 0.0001). Neophobic schoolchildren presented significantly worse results in vegetable consumption, especially at the Secondary level, and in the acceptance of healthy preparations (p < 0.05). A good acceptance of the prepared preparations was associated with the usual adequate consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish and legumes. Conclusion: food neophobia affects the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the acceptance of healthy foods elaborated in gastronomic workshops by Spanish schoolchildren

Introducción: la neofobia alimentaria puede afectar la variedad dietética y la aceptación hedónica debido al rechazo de alimentos saludables. Objetivo: evaluar el impacto de la neofobia alimentaria en la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea y en la aceptación hedónica de alimentos saludables realizados en talleres gastronómicos por escolares. Metodología: estudio descriptivo transversal de escolares de Primaria (8-11) y Secundaria (12-18) de Murcia, España, que participaron en talleres gastronómicos donde se prepararon y probaron dos recetas (verduras + pescado azul y frutas). Se identificaron la neofobia alimentaria (FN) y la adhesión a la dieta mediterránea (KIDMED) y cada participante evaluó la aceptación de cada receta utilizando una escala hedónica (siete puntos). Resultados: participaron 1.491 alumnos (49,5% niñas); el 13,5% eran neofóbicos y el 61,1% presentaban una calidad óptima de la dieta. Se encontró una relación lineal inversa entre el grado de neofobia y la calidad de la dieta (ρ [rho] = -0,31, p = 0,001). La alta adherencia a la dieta mediterránea se asoció con menor neofobia y mejores puntuaciones hedónicas en comparación con adherencias intermedias o bajas (p < 0,0001). Los escolares neofóbicos presentaron resultados significativamente peores en el consumo de vegetales, especialmente en el nivel secundario y en la aceptación de preparaciones saludables (p < 0,05). Una buena aceptación de las recetas elaboradas se asoció con el habitual consumo de frutas, verduras, pescado y legumbres. Conclusión: la neofobia alimentaria afecta la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea y la aceptación de alimentos saludables elaborados en talleres gastronómicos por escolares españoles