Children's acceptance of new foods at weaning. Role of practices of weaning and of food sensory properties

Weaning (i.e. introduction of complementary foods) is a transitional process between the consumption of a unique food, milk, and family foods. This review of existing literature regarding factors favouring the development of food acceptance at the beginning of weaning underlines in particular the roles of repeated exposure, of introduction of a variety of foods, of timing of introduction of weaning foods, and of food sensory properties (texture, taste and flavours). All factors appear to play a role in the acceptance of weaning foods. The efficiency, most favourable windows and long-term impact of each of these factors is not known accurately.

► When and how complementary feeding is conducted may influence acceptance of new foods.
► Repeated exposure enhances new food acceptance.
► At the beginning of weaning, feeding a variety of foods increases new food acceptance.
► Timing of weaning may influence new food acceptance but was not much studied.
► Sensory properties of new foods (texture, taste, flavour) impact new food acceptance.