Why Do Kids Crave The Same Foods?

Kids find comfort in the familiar, whether it's their favorite toys, games and yes, food. But why is it that children tend to favor the same meals time and time again, while adults are more open to exploring and crave variety? Understanding the reasons behind children's food preferences can help you create school menus that maximize participation while promoting variety through side dishes.

Taste Buds

At a young age, children's palates are still developing. Researchers have indicated that children are more likely to gravitate toward familiar foods because they provide a sense of safety. Elementary-aged children show a preference for simple flavors and textures, often leaning towards sweet, salty, and crunchy foods. Taste buds constantly evolve, regenerating every 10-14 days. As kids grow, their taste buds become more sophisticated. For example, a teenager can recognize and appreciate subtle flavors that a young child can't.

When faced with new foods, a child's instinct may be to reject them as a way of avoiding risk. Familiar meals, such as macaroni and cheese or chicken tenders, provide consistent taste and texture which can be comforting in a sometimes chaotic school environment.

Young children find comfort in familiar foods.

Crafting The Elementary Menu

When budgeting and planning school menus use data to identify your students' preferences. Students and parents typically decide if a child will eat school lunch by looking at the entree. What are your 10 most popular entrees based on participation? Construct a three week (15 day) cycle menu by using these top 10, repeat the top 3 entrees with different sides and feature 2 slots for Limited Time Offerings (LTOs) that can change seasonally. LTOs are a perfect way to try out new menu entrees, celebrate a holiday or tie in with a school event. Breakfast for Lunch is a top performer and most likely in your top 10. You can easily repeat this in your cycle menu by offering different brunch entrees like pancakes, waffles or french toast sticks. Be sure to offer a second choice entree available every day like a yogurt pack with cheese and crackers. Students can select their fruit and vegetables from the regular menu.

Pair favorite entrees with new sides.

To create variety and encourage healthy eating, try fun side dishes like fried rice or whole grain ramen noodles with several choices of fruits and vegetables. This is a good way to introduce new flavors and nutrients to their diets without overwhelming them. They will be more likely to try these foods if you create a marketing event like Try it Tuesday or Thank a Farmer Friday.

Building a data driven cycle menu not only boosts participation, it simplifies ordering, reduces food waste and creates an easier and more efficient workflow for employees as they gain experience preparing the same set of meals over time.

New foods are less scary when paired with familiar favorites.

Final Thoughts

Research consistently shows that young children's food preferences are heavily influenced by exposure and repeated taste experiences. A study from the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior emphasizes that children become more accepting of new foods when they are offered alongside their favorites multiple times. In other words, don't count out new foods as flops until you've served them 3 or 4 times. Understanding children's food preferences will help you create menus best suited to their tastes, not an adult's. Make school meals a place where comfort meets nutrition—a balance that can positively influence kids' relationships with food for years to come.