The effects of pregnancy-related changes in eating attitudes and behaviours on nutritional status

BACKGROUND

During pregnancy, the requirements of essential nutrients for the mother and foetus increase. The changes in pregnant women's eating behaviours may vary according to their sociodemographic characteristics. It is important to meet these increased requirements and understand the factors influencing eating habits during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine the effects of changes in pregnant women's eating attitudes and behaviours and their sociodemographic characteristics on their meeting status for nutrient recommendations.

METHODS

Sociodemographic information, eating behaviours, and attitudes of 656 pregnant women were obtained in face-to-face interviews between February and June 2020. Food consumption records were taken with a 24-hour recall method and evaluated according to the estimated average requirement value.

RESULTS

The average age of pregnant women was 29.0 ± 5.2 years, 28.0% were high school graduates, and 69.2% were non-working. The frequency of intakes below the estimated mean requirement value were iron, folic acid, vitamin B6, niacin, and calcium. It was demonstrated that there was a significant difference in snack consumption based on the working status and nutrition information obtained (P < .05). Getting nutrition information, age, education level, working status, and pre-pregnancy body mass index significantly increased food consumption (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Inadequate nutrient intake is a common public health problem in pregnant women. It is necessary to identify the sociodemographic characteristics that negatively impact pregnant women's nutritional status and to develop nutrition and health education programs based on these features.

The Effects of an Educational Intervention About Front-of-Package Labeling on Food and Beverage Selection Among Children and Their Caregivers: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Overweight and obesity pose a global public health challenge and have a multifactorial origin. One of these factors includes obesogenic environments, which promote ultraprocessed foods characterized by being high in calories, saturated fats, added sugars, and sodium. In Mexico, it has been estimated that 30% of the total energy consumed comes from processed foods. The Modification to the Official Mexican Standards introduces nutritional information through black octagonal seals that alert consumers about products with excessive amounts of some components for a better food selection in the population. However, the effects of warning labels on processed food selection and purchases among children remain unknown.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the impact of a digital educational intervention focusing on front-of-package warning labels on the food selection and purchasing behavior of elementary schoolchildren and their caregivers.

METHODS

Children from 4 elementary schools in Mexico City, 2 public and 2 private schools, will participate in a randomized controlled trial. The schools will be chosen by simple random sampling. Schools will be randomized into 2 groups: intervention and control. In the control group, the dyads (caregiver-schoolchildren) will receive general nutritional education, and in the intervention group, they will receive guidance on reading labels and raising awareness about the impact of consuming ultraprocessed products on health. The educational intervention will be conducted via a website. Baseline measurements will be taken for both groups at 3 and 6 months. All participants will have access to an online store through the website, allowing them to engage in exercises for selecting and purchasing food and beverages. In addition, other measures will include a brief 5-question exam to evaluate theoretical understanding, a 24-hour reminder, a survey on food habits and consumption, application of a food preference scale, anthropometric measurements, and recording of school lunch choices.

RESULTS

Registration and funding were authorized in 2022, and we will begin data collection in September 2024. Recruitment has not yet taken place, but the status of data analysis and expected results will be published in April 2025.

CONCLUSIONS

The study is expected to contribute to evaluating whether reinforcing front-of-package warning labels with education enhances its effects and makes them more sustainable. Conducting this study will allow us to propose whether or not it is necessary to develop new intervention strategies related to front-of-package labeling for a better understanding of the population, improved food choices, and better health outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06102473; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06102473.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/54783.

'Dust you shall eat': The complex nutritional and functional considerations underlying a simple diet

Animals assimilate macronutrients and mineral nutrients in specific quantities and ratios to maximise fitness. To achieve this, animals must ingest different foods that contain the needed nutrients or facilitate the digestion of those nutrients. We explored how these multidimensional considerations affect the desert isopods (Hemilepistus reaumuri) curious food selection, using field and laboratory experiments. Wild isopods consumed three-fold more macronutrient-poor biological soil crust (BSC) than plant litter. Isopods tightly regulated macronutrient and calcium intake, but not phosphorus when eating the two natural foods and when artificial calcium and phosphorus sources substituted the BSC. Despite the equivalent calcium ingestion, isopods performed better when eating BSC compared to artificial foods. Isopods that consumed BSC sterilised by gamma-radiation ate more but grew slower than isopods that ate live BSC, implying that ingested microorganisms facilitate litter digestion. Our work highlights the need to reveal the multifaceted considerations that affect food-selection when exploring trophic-interactions.

Selecting foods from FNDDS when calculating food intake: Does the reference matter?

To estimate food intake, the nutrient content of food must be known or inferred by matching it to a nutrient database. This study evaluated how different procedures for matching foods to the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS) affect food intake estimates. Adult participants estimated a meal with the PortionSize app, which contains a subset of FNDDS codes (PortionSize FNDDS). Meals were covertly weighed (weigh back), and intake was estimated by referencing the FNDDS dataset. Combination foods were evaluated by 1) a composite generated by summing the nutrient values (from FNDDS) from single food items and 2) using the single composite food code from FNDDS. Raters analyzed food images from the PortionSize app to estimate intake with the digital photography of foods (DPF) method. Raters estimated intake from: 1) PortionSize FNDDS and 2) full FNDDS. Using PortionSize's FNDDS database, participants' energy intake estimates were equivalent to rater estimated energy intake. Raters estimated almost identical energy intake when they used PortionSize vs. full FNDDS. Using the full FNDDS, the DPF's energy estimates were similar to weigh back. Estimation of energy intake with a single FNDDS code was not equivalent to estimations from summing the nutrient values for combination foods.

Favorite Parts of a Single Leaf for Giant Flying Squirrels to Eat in Three Species of Food Trees

To examine the effect of leaf chemical composition on selective herbivory by the Japanese giant flying squirrels (Petaurista leucogenys), we measured and compared the total phenolic, glucose, and water contents of leaves among their main food tree species, deciduous Quercus acutissima, and evergreen Q. sessilifolia and Phonitia serratifolia. Leaves of these three tree species were available in the warm season (April to October), but the flying squirrels mostly preferred the leaves of Q. acutissima, having higher glucose and water contents than those of the other two tree species. In the cold season (November to the next March), the two evergreen tree species were available, and the flying squirrels used both leaves without any apparent influence of the chemical compositions. On the other hand, the favorite parts of a single leaf differed among the three tree species. Flying squirrels dropped the individual leaves after partial consumption. Their feeding marks on the dropped leaves were distinguished into four types: apical, basal, central, and marginal parts of consumption. The basal parts of consumption were most frequent in Q. acutissima leaves in which more water was contained at the basal part, and the central part consumption followed, which may be related to a lower phenolic content and more glucose and water at the leaf center than its margin. In contrast, the apically consumed leaves dominated in Q. sessilifolia, with relatively homogeneous leaf chemical distribution except for more water at the center. In P. serratifolia, leaves consumed at the center were frequent, but those with marginal consumption were also observed, which may be related to its specific chemical distribution with less phenolics and more glucose at the leaf margin. Thus, the chemical distributions within the single leaf differ among tree species, and the flying squirrel's selectivity of the tree species and the part of each leaf depends partly on the relative compositions of preferable glucose and water and unpreferable phenolics.

Bitter taste receptors of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

Despite the important role of bitter taste for the rejection of potentially harmful food sources, birds have long been suspected to exhibit inferior bitter tasting abilities. Although more recent reports on the bitter recognition spectra of several bird species have cast doubt about the validity of this assumption, the bitter taste of avian species is still an understudied field. Previously, we reported the bitter activation profiles of three zebra finch receptors Tas2r5, -r6, and -r7, which represent orthologs of a single chicken bitter taste receptor, Tas2r1. In order to get a better understanding of the bitter tasting capabilities of zebra finches, we selected another Tas2r gene of this species that is similar to another chicken Tas2r. Using functional calcium mobilization experiments, we screened zebra finch Tas2r1 with 72 bitter compounds and observed responses for 7 substances. Interestingly, all but one of the newly identified bitter agonists were different from those previously identified for Tas2r5, -r6, and -r7 suggesting that the newly investigated receptor fills important gaps in the zebra finch bitter recognition profile. The most potent bitter agonist found in our study is cucurbitacin I, a highly toxic natural bitter substance. We conclude that zebra finch exhibits an exquisitely developed bitter taste with pronounced cucurbitacin I sensitivity suggesting a prominent ecological role of this compound for zebra finch.

Picking pithy plants: Pith selectivity by wild white-faced capuchin monkeys, Cebus imitator

Understanding diet selectivity is a longstanding goal in primate ecology. Deciphering when and why primates consume different resources can provide insights into their nutritional ecology as well as adaptations to food scarcity. Plant pith, the spongy interior of plant stems, is occasionally eaten by primates, but the context is poorly understood. We examine the ecological, mechanical, chemical, and nutritional basis of plant pith selection by a wild, frugivorous-omnivorous primate (Cebus imitator). We test the hypothesis that pith is a fallback food, that is, consumed when fruit is less abundant, and test for differences between plant species from which pith is eaten versus avoided. We collected 3.5 years of capuchin pith consumption data to document dietary species and analyzed "pith patch visits" in relation to fruit availability, visits to fruit patches, and climatic seasonality. We analyzed dietary and non-dietary species for relative pith quantity, mechanical hardness, odor composition, and macronutrient concentrations. Capuchins ate pith from 11 of  ~300 plant species common in the dry forest, most commonly Bursera simaruba. We find that pith consumption is not directly related to fruit availability or fruit foraging but occurs most frequently (84% of patch visits) during the months of seasonal transition. Relative to common non-dietary species, dietary pith species have relatively higher pith quantity, have softer outer branches and pith, and contain more terpenoids, a class of bioactive compounds notable for their widespread medicinal properties. Our results suggest that greater pith quantity, lower hardness, and a more complex, terpenoid-rich odor profile contribute to species selectivity; further, as pith is likely to be consistently available throughout the year, the seasonality of pith foraging may point to zoopharmacognosy, as seasonal transitions typically introduce new parasites or pathogens. Our study furthers our understanding of how climatic seasonality impacts primate behavior and sheds new light on food choice by an omnivorous primate.

Qualitative menu labelling in university restaurants and its influence on food choices: A systematic review and synthesis without meta-analysis

Qualitative menu labelling can be defined as descriptive or non-numerical interpretive labels (e.g. traffic light labelling, healthy food symbols, messages or ingredient lists). Qualitative information seems to have a positive influence on consumers' food choices, particularly in institutional food service establishments, such as in universities. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the influence of different formats of qualitative menu labelling on food choices in university restaurants. This systematic review was guided by the Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Synthesis Without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) and conducted vote counting of studies based on the direction of effect. Studies were retrieved from Cochrane Library, Scopus, MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO and Web of Science databases and reference lists of selected articles. Experimental and quasi-experimental studies were included. Two independent researchers searched and extracted the data and assessed the methodological quality using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. From the initial search (460 records), four papers were selected, plus one paper identified in a previous study and a further six from an update search, totalling 11 included studies, reporting 14 different interventions (n = 499 174). Types of interventions included the use of symbols and the inclusion of traffic light labelling. Outcomes of interest were food choice, expressed as mean, median or percent healthy food choices or purchases. Qualitative menu labels increased healthy food choices and/or purchase behaviour, with 10 of 12 interventions favouring the intervention (83%; 95%CI 55-95%; p = 0.0386). Most of the studies favouring the intervention used healthy food symbols for healthier foods or food components, alone or in association with another intervention and were of moderate and weak quality. These findings may serve as a basis for the implementation of nutrition information policies in university restaurants.

Food preference strategy of four sympatric rodents in a temperate forest in northeast China

Rodents are well known as both seed predators and dispersers of various plant species in forest ecosystems, and they play an important role in the regeneration of vegetation. Thus, the research on seed selection and vegetation regeneration by sympatric rodents is an interesting topic. To understand the characteristics of preferences of rodents for different seeds, a semi-natural enclosure experiment was performed with four rodent species (Apodemuspeninsulae, Apodemusagrarius, Tscherskiatriton, and Clethrionomysrufocanus) and the seeds of seven plant species (Pinuskoraiensis, Corylusmandshurica, Quercusmongolica, Juglansmandshurica, Armeniacasibirica, Prunussalicina, and Cerasustomentosa) to investigate the differentiation in niches and patterns of resource utilization of sympatric rodents. The results showed that all the rodents had consumed many seeds of Pi.koraiensis, Co.mandshurica, and Q.mongolica but differed significantly in how they selected the different seeds. The rate of utilization (R_i) of Pi.koraiensis, Co.mandshurica, and Q.mongolica exhibited the highest values. The E_i values indicated that the rodents tested exhibited differences in their priorities used to select the seeds from different plant species. All four species of rodents exhibited obvious preferences for certain seeds. Korean field mice preferentially consumed the seeds of Q.mongolica, Co.mandshurica, and Pi.koraiensis. Striped field mice favor the seeds of Co.mandshurica, Q.mongolica, P.koraiensis, and Nanking cherry. Greater long-tailed hamsters prefer to consume the seeds of Pi.koraiensis, Co.mandshurica, Q.mongolica, Pr.salicina, and Ce.tomentosa. Clethrionomysrufocanus likes to eat the seeds of Pi.koraiensis, Q.mongolica, Co.mandshurica, and Ce.tomentosa. The results supported our hypothesis that sympatric rodents overlap in food selection. However, each rodent species has a marked preference for food selection, and different rodent species differ in their food preferences. This reflects the role of distinct food niche differentiation in their coexistence.

Food Intake and Food Selection Following Physical Relocation: A Scoping Review

Objectives: To synthesize the current available evidence on the changes in food intake and food selection after physical relocation in non-refugee populations. Methods: The inclusion criteria were studies with a measurement of food selection and/or food intake in non-refugee populations where physical relocation had occurred with self-reported or objective assessment of the neighbourhood physical environment before and after relocation. Databases searched included MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and SCOPUS from 1946 to August 2022. Results: A total of four articles met the inclusion criteria. Overall, these studies gave longitudinal (n = 2) and cross-sectional (n = 2) evidence to suggest that moving to an urban neighbourhood with more convenience stores, cafés and restaurants around the home was associated with an increase in unhealthy food intake in adult populations. Additional factors such as income, vehicle access, cost, availability and perceptions of the local food environment played a role in shaping food selection and food intake. Conclusion: Four internal migration studies were found. The limited evidence base calls for more research. Future studies should include children and apply appropriate research designs to account for neighbourhood self-selection and concurrent life events. International migration studies should include assessment of neighbourhood physical environments pre- and post-relocation.

The Health Economic Impact of Nephrotic Syndrome in the United States

Background

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a rare kidney syndrome with high morbidity. Although a common contributor to the burden of chronic kidney disease, the direct and indirect costs of NS to patients and family caregivers are unrecognized. The objective was to characterize the direct and indirect costs of NS to patients.

Methods

Adults with NS and family caregivers of children with NS were eligible to participate if they had a diagnosis of primary NS, had disease for at least 1 year, and had no other severe health conditions. Data-collection surveys were generated with input from the Kidney Research Network Patient Advisory Board, and surveys were mailed to the eligible participants. Participants were provided $50 for the return of completed surveys. Costs were defined as either direct out-of-pocket costs or indirect costs (e.g., time). Descriptive statistics, including percentage and median (interquartile range [IQR]) are reported.

Results

Respondents included 28 adult patients and 17 caregivers of patients who were minors. Reported health insurance coverage included 35 (78%) with private insurance, 12 (27%) with public insurance, six (13%) with Children's Special Health Care Services, and one (2%) uninsured. Median annual direct costs were $3464 ($844-$5865) for adult patients and $1687 (IQR $1035-$4763) for caregivers. Of these costs, diet-associated costs contributed $1140 (IQR $600-$2400). The most substantial indirect cost was from the time spent planning/prepping meals (adults: 183 h/yr [IQR 114-331]; caregivers: 173 h/yr [IQR 84-205]).

Conclusions

Adults and caregivers of children with NS face substantial disease-related direct and indirect costs beyond those covered by insurance. Following replication, the study will help health care providers, systems, and payers gain a better understanding of the financial and time burden incurred by those living with NS, consider barriers when treating patients, and develop supportive strategies.

Feather pecking and foraging uncorrelated - the redirection hypothesis revisited

1. Feather pecking (FP) is said to be a redirection of food-related foraging pecks to feathers. The effects of three foraging enrichments on the pecking behaviours of layer pullets in pens and as hens in cages (Gallus gallus domesticus) were studied.2. Treatments included no added enrichment (Control), addition of a mix of wheat and sorghum grains (Grain), a mix of wheat and sorghum grains with lucerne and oaten chaff (Chaff), and lucerne hay (Hay). In pens, Hay was provided in racks, while Grain and Chaff were scattered on the floor. In cages, all treatments were provided in racks. It was predicted that enrichments that encouraged more pecking activity would be most successful at reducing FP.3. Overall pecking activity was similar between all treatments. The Chaff groups tended to FP less than Grain groups, and Hay groups had the least FP. In cages, both Chaff and Hay groups had significantly less FP than either the Grain or Control groups. FP did not reflect stimulus peck rates. Although Chaff groups pecked at their rack significantly less than either Grain or Hay groups, their FP was on a par with the birds in the Hay groups. Feather quality followed these trends.4. The fact that these results were inconsistent with the original hypothesis led to a proposal for a modified hypothesis. Rather than the appetitive component of food searching motivation being redirected to feathers, it is the appetitive component of exploratory motivation, and the ability to reach the goal to update information about the environment is what feeds back to the motivation which leads to FP. This modified hypothesis is consistent with the results of this and many other studies and with modern concepts of motivation, foraging, exploration and food selection.

Breakfast Cereals Intended for Children: Opportunities for Reformulation and Potential Impact on Nutrient Intake

Ready-to-eat cereals (RTECs) have become a popular breakfast option claiming to provide important nutrients to children's diets, despite being a source of excess sugar and, therefore, a health concern. Thus, food reformulation constitutes an important public health strategy that could benefit from inputs provided by nutrient profiling. This study aimed to assess the adequacy of the RTECs for children available in Portuguese supermarkets, applying three nutrient profile models (NPMs)-the nutrient profile model of the World Health Organization's Regional Office for Europe (WHO-EURO), the profile of the private-sector EU Pledge (EU-Pledge), and the national model developed by the Directorate-General of Health (NPM-PT)-in order to explore the potential for reformulation of the RTECs identified as not adequate and evaluate the impact of RTECs' reformulation on the nutritional quality of Portuguese children's diets. In total, 78 RTECs intended for children were assessed and two scenarios-current (not considering reformulation) and alternative (considering reformulation to accomplish the nutrient profile requirements)-were considered to assess the impact of reformulation on nutritional quality. Across all RTECs, only 5.1% could be promoted to children according to the considered NPMs. The most common nutrients requiring reformulation were sugar, saturated fatty acids (SFA), salt, and dietary fiber. The scenarios of reformulation considered could reduce the RTECs average content of total sugars, SFA, and salt by 43%, 8.7%, and 1.1%, respectively, and dietary fiber intake could be increased by 34%. Thus, these results support policies to implement reformulation strategies for developing healthier food products to be promoted to children.

Development of a New Tool for Managing Performance Nutrition: The Athlete Food Choice Questionnaire

This study aimed to develop and refine an Athlete Food Choice Questionnaire (AFCQ) to determine the key factors influencing food choice in an international cohort of athletes. A questionnaire that contained 84 items on a 5-point frequency scale was developed for this study. Athletes at the 2017 Universiade, in Taiwan, were invited to participate. Principal component analysis was utilized to identify key factors and to refine the questionnaire. Completed questionnaires were received from 156 athletes from 31 countries and 17 sports. The principal component analysis extracted 36 items organized into nine factors explaining 68.0% of variation. The nine factors were as follows: nutritional attributes of the food, emotional influences, food and health awareness, influence of others, usual eating practices, weight control, food values and beliefs, sensory appeal, and performance. The overall Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure was 0.75, the Bartlett test of sphericity was statistically significant, χ2(666) =2,536.50, p < .001, and all of the communalities remained >0.5. Intercorrelations were detected between performance and both nutritional attributes of the food and weight control. The price of food, convenience, and situational influences did not form part of the factorial structure. This research resulted in an AFCQ that includes factors specific to athletic performance and the sporting environment. The AFCQ will enable researchers and sports dietitians to better tailor nutrition education and dietary interventions to suit the individual or team. The next phase will test the accuracy and reliability of the AFCQ both during and outside of competition. The AFCQ is a useful tool to assist with management of performance nutrition for athletes.

An Evaluation of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Perceived Social Distancing Policies in Relation to Planning, Selecting, and Preparing Healthy Meals: An Observational Study in 38 Countries Worldwide

Objectives

To examine changes in planning, selecting, and preparing healthy foods in relation to personal factors (time, money, stress) and social distancing policies during the COVID-19 crisis.

Methods

Using cross-sectional online surveys collected in 38 countries worldwide in April-June 2020 (N = 37,207, Mage 36.7 SD 14.43, 73.6% women), we compared changes in food literacy behaviors to changes in personal factors and social distancing policies, using hierarchical multiple regression analyses controlling for sociodemographic variables.

Results

Increases in planning (4.7 SD 1.2, 4.9 SD 1.3), selecting (3.8 SD 1.7, 3.8 SD 1.7), and preparing (4.6 SD 1.3, 4.7 SD 1.3) healthy foods were found for women and men, and positively related to perceived time availability among women and stay-at-home policies for planning and preparing in women. Psychological distress was a barrier for women, and an enabler for men. COVID-19 induced financial stress was a barrier depending on various sociodemographic variables (all p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Stay-at-home policies and feelings of having more time during COVID-19 seem to have improved food literacy among women. Stress and other social distancing policies relate to food literacy in more complex ways, highlighting the necessity of a health equity lens.

Visual detection and fruit selection by the mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata)

Howler monkeys (platyrrhini) have evolved routine trichromatic color vision independently from catarrhines, which presents an opportunity to test hypotheses concerning the adaptive value of distinguishing reddish from greenish hues. A longstanding hypothesis posits that trichromacy aids in the efficient detection of reddish-ripe fruits, which could be an advantage for the detection of the nutritional content of the fruit, such as sugars. In the present study, we assessed fruit visual conspicuity and selection based on color and sucrose content by wild mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) on Agaltepec Island, Mexico. We used colorimetry to classify dietary fruits as cryptic (greenish) or conspicuous (reddish) against their background leaves. Species-specific color models indicate that trichromatic howler monkeys should be more efficient in discriminating the conspicuous ripe fruits from leaves compared to detecting cryptic ripe fruits from leaves. We found howler monkeys consume more cryptic fruits compared to conspicuous fruits, and that they consume more unripe fruits than ripe fruits. The consumption (acceptance) of fruit was independent of sucrose content, and thus this disaccharide may not play an essential role in mantled howler food selection. Our findings suggest that routine trichromatic color vision may aid in the detection and discrimination of conspicuously colored fruits, but that the final decision whether to accept or reject a fruit probably involves the use of other senses in addition to vision.

Food Trying and Liking Related to Grade Level and Meal Participation

School-based child nutrition programs provide students with meals and snacks that align with guidelines for a healthy eating pattern. However, participation is not universal, and research on the determinants of food selection is needed to improve school nutrition practices and policies. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between grade level (i.e., grade school, middle school, or high school) as well as meal participation category (i.e., only breakfast, only lunch, or both) and food trying and liking in a large urban school district. Outcomes were measured using an online survey completed by students from 2nd through 12th grade (n = 21,540). Breakfast and lunch item liking scores were higher among the grade school and middle school students than among the high school students. Breakfast and lunch liking scores were also higher among those who participated in both breakfast and lunch as opposed to those who only participated in one meal. Food item liking scores were positively correlated with the percentage of students who had tried the particular foods (r = 0.52, p < 0.001), and the number of foods tried was dependent on both grade level and meal participation category (F(4, 21,531) = 10.994, p < 0.001). In this survey of students, both grade level and meal participation category were found to be related to the liking of foods, while foods that were tried more often tended to be liked more. Future studies should consider grade level and meal participation when exploring student preferences. School nutrition programs should also consider these factors when assessing satisfaction.

Homeostatic versus hedonic control of carbohydrate selection

Macronutrient intake is associated with cardiometabolic health, ageing and longevity, but the mechanisms underlying its regulation have remained unclear. Most rodents increase carbohydrate selection under certain physiological and pathological conditions such as fasting. When presented with a choice between a basally preferable high-fat diet (HFD) and a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) such as a high-sucrose diet, fasted mice first eat the HFD and then switch to the HCD during the first few hours of refeeding and continue to eat the HCD up to 24 h in the two-diet choice approach. Such consumption of an HCD after fasting reverses the fasting-induced increase in the plasma concentration of ketone bodies more rapidly than does refeeding with an HFD alone. 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-regulated neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) that express corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) are necessary and sufficient for the fasting-induced selection of carbohydrate over an HFD in mice. These neurons appear to contribute to a fasting-induced increase in the positive valence of carbohydrate without affecting the preference for more palatable and energy-dense diets such as an HFD. Identification of the neural circuits in which AMPK-regulated CRH neurons in the PVH of mice are embedded should shed new light on the physiological and molecular mechanisms responsible for macronutrient selection.

Key Factors Influencing the Food Choices of Athletes at two Distinct Major International Competitions

This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the food choices of athletes at the Universiade and Commonwealth Games and explore differences in the cohort across sport, competition history and demographic characteristics. A sample of 385 athletes (n = 153, 2017 Universiade, Taiwan; n = 232, 2018 Commonwealth Games, Australia), from 69 countries and 29 sports participated in this cross-sectional observational study. Participants rated 36 items from the Athlete Food Choice Questionnaire and 11 additional items (gut comfort, doping risk, availability, location, money, convenience, time of day, hunger, medical conditions, and food allergies) on how frequently (1 never to 5 always) each influences their food choices. "Performance", "sensory appeal", "food and health awareness" and "weight control" were reported as most frequently, while the least were "emotional influence", "influence of others" and "food values and beliefs". Commonwealth Games athletes were older, more experienced and more likely to report "performance" (median = 4.33 versus 4.00, U = 20250.0, p = 0.012) and less likely to report "emotional influences" (median = 2.80 versus 3.20, U = 14273.0, p = 0.001) than Universiade athletes. Greater numbers of younger athletes were often or always influenced by available money. Athletes across all sports reported frequently considering gut comfort in their food choices. These results can inform nutrition education strategies of high-performance athletes.

Contact Chemosensory Genes Identified in Leg Transcriptome of Apis cerana cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Correct gustatory recognition and selection of foods both within and outside the hive by honey bee workers are fundamental to the maintenance of colonies. The tarsal chemosensilla located on the legs of workers are sensitive to nonvolatile compounds and proposed to be involved in gustatory detection. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the gustatory recognition of foods in honey bees. In the present study, RNA-seq was performed with RNA samples extracted from the legs of 1-, 10-, and 20-d-old workers of Apis cerana cerana Fabricius, a dominant indigenous crop pollinator with a keen perception ability for phytochemicals. A total of 124 candidate chemosensory proteins (CSPs), including 15 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), 5 CSPs, 7 gustatory receptors (GRs), 2 sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs), and 95 odorant receptors (ORs), were identified from the assembled leg transcriptome. In silico analysis of expression showed that 36 of them were differentially expressed among the three different ages of A. c. cerana workers. Overall, the genes encoding OBPs and CSPs had great but extremely variable FPKM values and thus were highly expressed in the legs of workers, whereas the genes encoding ORs, GRs, and SNMPs (except SNMP2) were expressed at low levels. Tissue-specific expression patterns indicated that two upregulated genes, AcerOBP15 and AcerCSP3, were predominately expressed in the legs of 20-d-old foragers, suggesting they may play an essential role in gustatory recognition and selection of plant nectars and pollens. This study lays a foundation for further research on the feeding preferences of honey bees.

Analysis of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption by Children in School Canteens Depending on Selected Sociodemographic Factors

Background and Objectives: Eating habits acquired or changed during childhood are likely to track into adulthood. Due to the fact that nutritional behaviours are not so strongly formed among children, it is easier to change and develop them in children than in adults. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of selected sociodemographic factors affecting fruit and vegetable consumption (i.e., age, parents' body mass index, parents' level education, duration of breastfeeding, child's time spent in front of computer/television) among children in school canteens. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 106 participants (52 girls, 54 boys) aged 6-12. The frequency of consuming fruits and vegetables at a school canteen was assessed using bar code cards for two weeks. Body composition estimates were obtained using a foot-to-foot bioelectrical impedance analysis, body height was measured using a stadiometer Seca 213. The questionnaire contained questions about selected factors which can have an influence on fruit and vegetable consumption. In the study group, 13.2% of participants were overweight and 17.9% were obese. Results: Our results showed a statistically significant relationship between age and fruit and vegetable consumption, and it increased with age in both sexes. Conclusions: Bearing in mind the various conditions discussed when shaping the eating habits of pre-school- and early-school-aged children, the importance of proper nutritional education should be stressed both among children and parents.

Evaluation of Athletes' Food Choices during Competition with Use of Digital Images

The selection of foods made by athletes during competition can impact performance, yet to date, the quality of their food choices has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to describe the food selection of athletes in a buffet-style dining hall setting in terms of diet quality, food variety, and volume of food and compare to their self-rating of their meal, reasons for the choosing the food items, access to previous nutrition advice, and use of nutrition labelling. A total of 81 athletes (42 females, 39 males) from 24 sports across 58 countries at the 2018 Commonwealth Games (Qld, Australia) participated in this study. A digital photograph was taken of the athletes' meal after selection from the buffet and prior to consumption. Each participant was asked a series of questions in relation to their food selection. The photographs were coded into recommended serves of food groups based on the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. The nutritional analysis and photograph of a standard serve size were used to quantify the energy and nutrients for the meal. Most athletes chose adequate quantities of macronutrients, which agreed with their reasons for the food choice, but the majority did not include fruit (80.2%) or dairy (65.4%) in their food selection, while 54% of males included discretionary foods (0.25-7.0 serves). The median self-rating for food choice was 8/10. Most reasons for food choices were nutritional attributes, sensory factors, performance, usual eating practices and physiological factors (e.g., satiety, gut comfort). This suggests that athletes may need more education on the quality of food selected from buffet settings.

Food Preferences in Cats: Effect of Dietary Composition and Intrinsic Variables on Diet Selection

Simple Summary

Cats tend to retain food preferences across their lifetime, but intrinsic variables could affect their diet choices so as to preserve internal homoeostasis. This work intended to study the feeding behavior of cats in relation to diet composition and some intrinsic variables (sex, age, and body weight) by analyzing data from a 10-year database of two-feeder food preference tests (2007–2017). Diet mineral components (calcium, crude fiber and ashes) affected food preferences negatively. In addition, the influence of body weight and sex manifested as lower food intake in both females and the heaviest cats (relative to bodyweight). However, only body weight affected food preferences, where the heaviest animals presented the higher preferences overall. During the cold season, animals (especially females) displayed higher food intake, whereas hot seasons increased male cat preferences for palatable diets, hence we observed an interaction between sex and climate season. In conclusion, understanding the relationship that both food composition and some intrinsic variables cats have with their diet preference could help in improving the formulation of specific pet food diets, so that these adequately satisfy the physiological and hedonic needs of domestic cats.

Abstract

A ten-year database of food preference tests (n = 1021; period 2007−2017) was used to explore the feeding behavior of domestic cats. Principal component (PC) analysis and linear regression between food nutrients and preferences (for the most preferred diet of each test; Diet A) were performed. Intake and preference for Diet A were analyzed by intrinsic cats’ variables and climate season. The PC1 (calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and ash), PC2 (lipids and ether extract) and PC4 (crude fiber; CF) had borderline significance (p < 0.06; β = −1.42, β = −1.56, and β = 2.68, respectively). Ash and CF contents presented negative correlations with food preference (rho = −0.269, p = 0.031; rho = −0.338, p = 0.006, respectively), and Ca had borderline significance and negative correlation with food preference (rho = −0.241, p = 0.054). Body weight and sex influenced the intake of Diet A, being lower for females (β = 11.758; p = 0.014) and heaviest cats (β = −5.490; p < 0.001). However, only body weight affected food preferences, where the heaviest cats had greater preferences for Diet A. Hot season decreased food intake (β = −2,117; p = 0.032), mostly in females (rho = −3.537; p = 0.002). Males had greater preferences for Diet A during hot seasons (β = 10.216; p = 0.023) and females presented similar preferences throughout the year (p = 0.950). Mineral contents, body weight and sex affected food intake and preferences of cats under the influence of climate season, probably explained by adaptive changes in food detection.

Hexanal, a major volatile found in fresh peanut seed, elicits foraging behavior in the laboratory-reared brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Phytophagous insects utilize visual, olfactory and gustatory cues to find food. The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), quickly approaches fresh peanut seeds newly introduced into the rearing cage in the laboratory but shows less interest in stale peanut seed previously infested by conspecifics. This observation suggests that H. halys can perceive the quality of food by detecting the volatile(s) from fresh peanut seeds. A bioassay revealed that H. halys adults could more quickly find fresh peanut seeds than three-day-infested peanut seeds, which is consistent with laboratory observations. Hexanal was found to be the major volatile component of fresh peanut seeds but not of previously infested ones. In the two-choice assays, the adult bugs that did respond were significantly attracted to fresh peanut volatiles and hexanal. Hexanal also induced proboscis-protruding behavior in adult H. halys, which suggested that this compound is a key stimulant of foraging behavior of laboratory-reared H. halys adults.

Healthier Choices in School Cafeterias: A Systematic Review of Cafeteria Interventions

OBJECTIVE

To describe school cafeteria interventions in terms of a behavioral economics scheme and to assess which system is more likely to be effective in improving food selection or consumption.

STUDY DESIGN

With this systematic review, we categorize cafeteria interventions using the behavioral economics theory of Kahneman into system 1 (fast and intuitive thinking) and system 2 (slow and cognitively demanding) or mixed (having elements of system 1 and system 2). Pertinent studies were identified from review of the literature of interventions performed in school and cafeteria settings in children grades K-12 within the past 5 years (2012-2017) at time of search.

RESULTS

In all, 48 of 978 studies met inclusion criteria. By defining success as a 30% improvement in a desired outcome or statistically significant reduction in body mass index, 89% of system 1, 67% of mixed (had both system 1 and 2 elements), and only 33% of system 2 interventions were successful.

CONCLUSIONS

This review found successful system 1 type school cafeteria interventions to be more common than system 2 type interventions and system 2 type interventions are less effective than system 1.

Mere social knowledge impacts children's consumption and categorization of foods

How does social information affect the perception of taste early in life? Does mere knowledge of other people's food preferences impact children's own experience when eating? In Experiment 1, 5- and 6-year-old children consumed more of a food described as popular with other children than a food that was described as unpopular with other children, even though the two foods were identical. In Experiment 2, children ate more of a food described as popular with children than a food described as popular with adults. Experiment 3 tested whether different perceptual experiences of otherwise identical foods contributed to the mechanisms underlying children's consumption. After sampling both endpoints of a sweet-to-sour range (applesauce with 0 mL or 5mL of lemon juice added), children were asked to taste and categorize applesauce samples with varying amounts of lemon juice added. When classifying ambiguous samples that were near the midpoint of the range (2 mL and 3 mL), children were more likely to categorize popular foods as sweet as compared to unpopular foods. Together, these findings provide evidence that social information plays a powerful role in guiding children's consumption and perception of foods. Broader links to the sociality of food selection are discussed.

Does pollution influence small mammal diet in the field? A metabarcoding approach in a generalist consumer

Mammals are mainly exposed to trace metals (TMs) via consuming contaminated food. Several studies have demonstrated relationships between metal concentrations in food and in animal tissues. However, potential effects of TMs on feeding behaviour of wildlife have been poorly documented under field conditions, despite experimental evidence showing that food selection is impacted by resource contamination. Here, we test the hypothesis that the diet of a generalist rodent, the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), is altered by soil TM contamination in the field. Wood mice were sampled in spring and in autumn along a gradient of soil contamination in the surroundings of a former smelter located in northern France. Available resources in the field were inventoried, and the diet of the animals was analysed using DNA "metabarcoding." We demonstrated that (a) relationship between the resource richness in the diet and their richness in the field was altered by soil metal contamination. Wood mice specialized their diet along the gradient of soil metal contamination for both plant and invertebrate resources in spring. We also showed that (b) preference for Salicaceae, a plant family accumulating metals, decreased when soil contamination increased. These results suggest that environmental TM pollution could act as a force modulating trophic interactions in terrestrial food webs, thereby affecting wildlife exposure to contaminants by trophic route.

Reported Influences on Restaurant-Type Food Selection Decision Making in a Grocery Store Chain

OBJECTIVE

To examine food decision-making priorities for restaurant-type foods at grocery stores and determine whether adding calorie information, as required by federal menu labeling laws, affected decision-making priorities.

DESIGN

Natural experiment: intervention and control groups with baseline and follow-up.

SETTING

Regional grocery store chain with 9 locations.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants (n = 393; mean age, 54.8 ± 15.1 years) were primarily women (71%) and Caucasian (95%).

INTERVENTION

Data were collected before and after calorie information was added to restaurant-type foods at 4 intervention locations.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Primary influencers of food selection decision making for restaurant-type foods and frequency of use of nutrition information.

ANALYSIS

Quantitative analysis examined the top 3 influencers of food selections and chi-square goodness of fit test determined whether the calorie labeling intervention changed food decision-making priorities. Qualitative data were used to describe responses.

RESULTS

Taste, cost, and convenience were the most frequently reported influencers of restaurant-type food selections; 20% of participants rated calories as influential. Calorie labeling did not affect food selection decision making; 16% of participants in intervention stores noticed calorie labels. Qualitative explanations confirmed these findings.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Menu labeling laws increase access to calorie information; however, use of this information is limited. Additional interventions are needed to encourage healthier restaurant-type food selections in grocery stores.

Diet and feeding behavior of a group of 42 Phayre's langurs in a seasonal habitat in Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan, China

In habitats such as temperate evergreen forests, fruit, and seed productivity is reported to exhibit marked changes in seasonal availability, such that fruit is most available in summer and seeds are most available in autumn. Primates living in these habitats, therefore, are expected to adjust their diets in response to the spatial and temporal variation in these food resources. We studied the diet and feeding behavior of a group of 42 Phayre's langurs (Trachypithecus phayrei) living in a northern (24°48'N) montane habitat (1,700-2,350 m) in Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan, China from August 2012 to July 2013. The langurs were found to forage on 50 plant species, of which 28 species each accounted for more than 1% of their annual feeding time. Castanopsis echidnocarpa, the most abundant species in their habitat, accounted for 17.5% of the total forest trees, and contributed to the largest proportion of the annual langur diet. The primary component of the langur diet was composed of fruits (22.2%), seeds (18.7%), and buds and young leaves (41.5%). Mature leaves accounted for only 4.1% of their diet. Based on DBH and the percent of the crown containing edible food items, we found that the langurs changed their monthly diet according to the availability of fruits and seeds (Spearman rank correlation: r = 0.609, p = 0.035), and buds and young leaves (Spearman rank correlation: r = 0.837, p = 0.001). The seeds of C. echidnocarpa accounted for 12.5% of langur feeding time. A single tree produced a large seed and fruit crop, which likely reduced opportunities for within-group feeding competition. We argue that the resource productivity of this northern montane enables Phayre's langurs to live in stable groups that are 3.6 times larger than reported for Phayre's langurs living in other habitats.

Seasonal changes in leaf chemistry and leaf selection of the Japanese giant flying squirrel upon two tree species

Tree leaves are important food sources for arboreal herbivores, such as primates, rodents, and marsupials. These animals do not eat leaves randomly in habitats with many tree species but rather choose based on the chemical components of leaves, such as sugars, fibers, proteins, and toxins. However, the effects of the microscale distribution of these chemicals within each leaf have not been examined for these animals. The giant flying squirrels Petaurista leucogenys are entirely arboreal, nocturnal herbivores, usually feeding on leaves and dropping leaf debris on the ground after partially consuming them. Therefore, we could easily assess which species of trees and which parts of the individual leaves they preferred to eat. We also examined microscale distributions of phenolics, sugar, and water within individual leaves. Of the two dominant food tree species, the deciduous Quercus acutissima was preferred over the evergreen Q. sessilifolia. The latter tree is only used during winter to early spring when the former had no leaves. Our chemical analyses revealed that Q. acutissima contained much more glucose than Q. sessilifolia in all seasons. Three types of leaf debris, eaten apically, basally, or centrally with a hole, were found. In Q. sessilifolia, which had low phenolic concentrations, apical eating was most common, whereas central eating was rare. In Q. acutissima, which had high phenolics, basal or central eating was common. Central feeding may be caused by avoiding the periphery because of a higher phenolic concentration in the leaf margin. Thus, microscale distributions of phenolics within individual leaves affect which parts P. leucogenys eats, whereas leaf sugar concentration is an important factor affecting which species of leaves they eat.

Gut Microbiota Modifies Olfactory-Guided Microbial Preferences and Foraging Decisions in Drosophila

The gut microbiota affects a wide spectrum of host physiological traits, including development [1-5], germline [6], immunity [7-9], nutrition [4, 10, 11], and longevity [12, 13]. Association with microbes also influences fitness-related behaviors such as mating [14] and social interactions [15, 16]. Although the gut microbiota is evidently important for host wellbeing, how hosts become associated with particular assemblages of microbes from the environment remains unclear. Here, we present evidence that the gut microbiota can modify microbial and nutritional preferences of Drosophila melanogaster. By experimentally manipulating the gut microbiota of flies subjected to behavioral and chemosensory assays, we found that fly-microbe attractions are shaped by the identity of the host microbiota. Conventional flies exhibit preference for their associated Lactobacillus, a behavior also present in axenic flies as adults and marginally as larvae. By contrast, fly preference for Acetobacter is primed by early-life exposure and can override the innate preference. These microbial preferences are largely olfactory guided and have profound impact on host foraging, as flies continuously trade off between acquiring beneficial microbes and balancing nutrients from food. Our study shows a role of animal microbiota in shaping host fitness-related behavior through their chemosensory responses, opening a research theme on the interrelationships between the microbiota, host sensory perception, and behavior.

Developing Nutrition Label Reading Skills: A Web-Based Practice Approach

Background

Nutrition labels offer the information needed to follow Dietary Guidelines for Americans, yet many individuals use labels infrequently or ineffectively due to limited comprehension and the effort required to use them.

Objective

The objective of our study was to develop and test a Web-based label-reading training tool to improve individuals’ ability to use labels to select more healthful foods. We were particularly interested in determining whether practice can lead to increased accuracy using labels as well as decreased effort, together reflecting greater efficiency. We compared a basic and an enhanced, prior-knowledge version of the tool that contained an additional component, a brief nutrition tutorial.

Methods

Participants were 140 college students with an average age of 20.7 (SD 2.1) years and education 14.6 (SD 1.2) years, who completed 3 sets of practice that were designed to teach them, through repetition and feedback, how to use nutrition labels to select more healthful products. Prior to training, participants in the prior-knowledge group viewed a multimedia nutrition presentation, which those in the basic group did not receive. Mixed-effects models tested for improvement in accuracy and speed with practice, and whether improvements varied by group.

Results

The training led to significant increases in average accuracy across the 3 practice sets (averaging 79% [19/24 questions], 92% [22/24], 96% [23/24] respectively, P<.001), as well as decreases in time to complete with mean (SD) values of 8.7 (2.8), 4.6 (1.8), and 4.1 (1.7) seconds, respectively. In block 3, the odds of a correct answer for the prior-knowledge group were 79% higher (odds ratio, OR=1.79, 95% CI 1.1-2.9) than those for the basic group (P=.02). There was no significant difference between the groups in block 2 (P=.89).

Conclusions

Practice led to improvements in nutrition label reading skills that are indicative of early stages of automatic processing. To the extent that automatic processes are at the core of healthy habit change, this may be an efficient way to improve dietary decision-making.

Balancing macronutrient intake in a mammalian carnivore: disentangling the influences of flavour and nutrition

There is a large body of research demonstrating that macronutrient balancing is a primary driver of foraging in herbivores and omnivores, and more recently, it has been shown to occur in carnivores. However, the extent to which macronutrient selection in carnivores may be influenced by organoleptic properties (e.g. flavour/aroma) remains unknown. Here, we explore the roles of nutritional and hedonic factors in food choice and macronutrient balancing in a mammalian carnivore, the domestic cat. Using the geometric framework, we determined the amounts and ratio of protein and fat intake in cats allowed to select from combinations of three foods that varied in protein : fat (P : F) composition (approx. 10 : 90, 40 : 60 and 70 : 30 on a per cent energy basis) to which flavours of different 'attractiveness' (fish, rabbit and orange) were added. In two studies, in which animal and plant protein sources were used, respectively, the ratio and amounts of protein and fat intake were very consistent across all groups regardless of flavour combination, indicating regulation of both protein and fat intake. Our results suggest that macronutrient balancing rather than hedonistic rewards based on organoleptic properties of food is a primary driver of longer-term food selection and intake in domestic cats.

Genetic variation in bitter taste receptor genes influences the foraging behavior of plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi)

The ability to detect bitter tastes is important for animals; it can help them to avoid ingesting harmful substances. Bitter taste perception is mainly mediated by bitter taste receptor proteins, which are encoded by members of the Tas2r gene family and vary with the dietary preference of a specific species. Although individuals with different genotypes differ in bitterness recognition capability, little is known about the relationship between genetic variation and food selection tendencies at the intraspecific level. In this study, we examined the relationship between genotypes and diet in plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi), a subterranean rodent endemic to the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau that caches food for the winter. We assayed the composition and taste profile of each plant contained in temporary caches and vicinity quadrats, which were representative of selected and available food, respectively. Bitter plant selection indices (E_bitter) were estimated. We also sequenced 26 candidate Tas2r genes from zokors and determined their relationships with the E_bitter of their caches. We identified four key results: (1) zokors varied considerably in both bitter food preference and Tas2r sequences; (2) five genes (zTas2r115,zTas2r119,zTas2r126,zTas2r134, and zTas2r136) exhibited allelic variation that was significantly associated with E_bitter; (3) synonymous SNPs, nonsynonymous SNPs, and pseudogenization are involved in the genotype–phenotype relationship; (4) the minor genotypes of zTas2r115,zTas2r134, and zTas2r136 and the major genotypes of zTas2r119 and zTas2r126 cached more bitter plants. Our results link Tas2r variation with food selection behavior at the population level for the first time.

The importance of protein in leaf selection of folivorous primates

Protein limitation has been considered a key factor in hypotheses on the evolution of life history and animal communities, suggesting that animals should prioritize protein in their food choice. This contrasts with the limited support that food selection studies have provided for such a priority in nonhuman primates, particularly for folivores. Here, we suggest that this discrepancy can be resolved if folivores only need to select for high protein leaves when average protein concentration in the habitat is low. To test the prediction, we applied meta-analyses to analyze published and unpublished results of food selection for protein and fiber concentrations from 24 studies (some with multiple species) of folivorous primates. To counter potential methodological flaws, we differentiated between methods analyzing total nitrogen and soluble protein concentrations. We used a meta-analysis to test for the effect of protein on food selection by primates and found a significant effect of soluble protein concentrations, but a non-significant effect for total nitrogen. Furthermore, selection for soluble protein was reinforced in forests where protein was less available. Selection for low fiber content was significant but unrelated to the fiber concentrations in representative leaf samples of a given forest. There was no relationship (either negative or positive) between the concentration of protein and fiber in the food or in representative samples of leaves. Overall our study suggests that protein selection is influenced by the protein availability in the environment, explaining the sometimes contradictory results in previous studies on protein selection. Am. J. Primatol. 79:e22550, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Reproducing butterflies do not increase intake of antioxidants when they could benefit from them

The significance of dietary antioxidants may be limited by the ability of animals to exploit them. However, past studies have focused on the effects of dietary antioxidants after 'antioxidant forced-feeding', and have overlooked spontaneous antioxidant intake. Here, we found that reproducing female Bicyclus anynana butterflies had higher antioxidant defences and enhanced fecundity when forced to consume antioxidants (polyphenols). Interestingly, these positive effects were not constant across the oviposition period. When given the choice between food resources with and without antioxidants, reproducing butterflies did not target antioxidants when they could have benefited the most from them. Moreover, they did not consume more antioxidants than non-reproducing butterflies. These results emphasize that, despite potential positive effects of dietary antioxidants, the ability of animals to exploit them is likely to restrict their ecological significance.

Led by the nose: Olfaction in primate feeding ecology

Olfaction, the sense of smell, was a latecomer to the systematic investigation of primate sensory ecology after long years in which it was considered to be of minor importance. This view shifted with the growing understanding of its role in social behavior and the accumulation of physiological studies demonstrating that the olfactory abilities of some primates are on a par with those of olfactory-dependent mammals such as dogs and rodents. Recent years have seen a proliferation of physiological, behavioral, anatomical, and genetic investigations of primate olfaction. These investigations have begun to shed light on the importance of olfaction in the process of food acquisition. However, integration of these works has been limited. It is therefore still difficult to pinpoint large-scale evolutionary scenarios, namely the functions that the sense of smell fulfills in primates' feeding ecology and the ecological niches that favor heavier reliance on olfaction. Here, we review available behavioral and physiological studies of primates in the field or captivity and try to elucidate how and when the sense of smell can help them acquire food.

Predictors of children's food selection: The role of children's perceptions of the health and taste of foods

Food selection, decisions about which foods to eat, is a ubiquitous part of our everyday lives. The aim of this research was to investigate the role of taste versus health perceptions in 4- and 6-year-old children's food selection. In this study, children and young adults were asked to rate the health and presumed taste of foods. Participants were also asked to indicate whether they would eat these foods in a food selection task. Overall, the results showed that taste was a strong predictor of individuals' food selection above and beyond the variance associated with age, health ratings, and interactions between age and presumed taste ratings as well as age and health ratings. These results contribute to our understanding of children's food selection, and the relative importance of a food's taste versus health in the development of these decisions.

Change of behaviour when selecting food products in a supermarket environment after reminding consumers about weight management

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to explore how the behaviour of consumers changed while they selected food in a supermarket environment after they were reminded about weight management. This investigation was carried out from the perspective of selection criteria, reading of package labels, nutritional quality of the products selected and time taken to select a product.

DESIGN

The subjects, who were actively watching their weight, participated in two consecutive tasks in a supermarket. They were given a shopping list of eleven food categories and asked to think aloud while selecting from each category a product they usually buy and a product they would use for weight management. The data (n 792 selections) were collected through interviews and a verbal analysis protocol combined with wireless audio-visual observation.

SUBJECTS

Thirty-six consumers were recruited from a sample of 367 supermarket customers.

SETTING

Kuopio, Finland.

RESULTS

The subjects' behaviour changed radically after they were reminded about weight management. In the first selection, taste and familiarity were the main food selection criteria while in the latter selection the energy/fat content predominated. Consequently, the nutritional quality of products improved greatly because subjects read package labels twice as much in the latter selection. The time taken to select a product increased significantly, on average, from 23 (sd 10) to 60 (sd 51) s/product (P = 0·000).

CONCLUSIONS

Only by reminding consumers about weight management was there a significant impact on their food selection behaviour. Marketing communication should be developed which quickly and easily promotes consumers' awareness of healthy food in supermarkets.

New directions in the use of virtual reality for food shopping: marketing and education perspectives

Virtual reality is used in marketing research to shape food selection and purchase decisions. Could it be used to counteract the marketing of less-nutritious foods and teach healthier food selection? This article presents interviews with Raymond Burke, Ph.D., of Indiana University Bloomington, and Rachel Jones, M.P.H., of the University of Utah College of Health. Topics covered include new marketing research technologies, including virtual reality simulations; retailing and shopper behavior; and the use of virtual grocery stores to help students explore quality of diet and food/nutrient relationships. The interviewees discuss how the technologies they have developed fit into research and behavior change related to obesity and diabetes.

Effects of social context on overweight and normal-weight children's food selection

Although most eating occurs in a social context, the impact of peer influence on child food consumption and selection of healthy and unhealthy snacks has not been the object of systematic experimental study. The present experiment assessed the effects of peer interaction on energy intake and food choices in 18 overweight and 21 non-overweight youth. Participants had access to high and low-calorie food items and were provided with several games as alternatives to eating. On one occasion, participants were tested alone and on another occasion they were tested in dyads with an unfamiliar peer. Consistent with previous results, we found that overweight children ate substantially more when alone than when in the presence of a peer and also more when alone than the lean children in the same condition. Non-overweight youths' food intake was unaffected by the social context. Findings also indicated that the best predictor of whether participants consumed healthy snack foods was if the other youth in the dyad also consumed healthy snack foods. These findings suggest that the presence of peers can influence overweight children's energy intake and also influence healthier food selection in both overweight and non-overweight children.