Children accepted a new vegetable after repeated, low-pressure tastes
An experimental study of exposure versus reward in vegetable acceptance
Reviewed by Sian Trombley, CCCFounder, Thrive Family Company
Moderate confidence
Source citation
Wardle J., Herrera M. L., Cooke L., Gibson E. L. (2003). Modifying children's food preferences: the effects of exposure and reward on acceptance of an unfamiliar vegetable. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601541
Published 1 January 2003 · Added to Thrive 26 July 2026 · Reviewed 26 July 2026
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Fussy eating advice is largely folklore. This experiment tested the two most common strategies head to head.
Published research findings
The study
Wardle and colleagues randomised preschool children to repeated daily exposure to an unfamiliar vegetable, exposure plus reward, or no intervention.
What researchers examined
Which approach increased liking and consumption of the unfamiliar vegetable.
What they found
Repeated exposure produced clear increases in liking and intake. Rewards added little beyond exposure and risked undermining intrinsic liking.
Thrive editorial interpretation
What this may mean for families
Repetition without pressure is the mechanism. Bribery is not required, and may backfire.
What this doesn't tell us
Important limitations
Small samples, short duration, and a single target vegetable.
Evidence confidence describes how much weight this study's design can carry — not how strongly the finding applies to any individual child or family.
Therapist perspective — Thrive interpretation, not a finding of the study
Therapist Perspective
Offer it, say nothing, remove it without comment. Then do that eight more times.
Practical family considerations
Offer the same food repeatedly without pressure or reward.
This research summary is educational and does not replace individualized medical, psychological or therapeutic advice.
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Breakfast helped attention and memory most in children who needed it most
2009 · Systematic review
Moderate confidence
Why it matters
Breakfast is worth protecting, particularly on demanding school days, without turning it into a battle.