Pre-exposure to high- versus low-caloric foods: effects on children's subsequent fruit intake.

The effects of pre-exposure to high- versus low-caloric foods on fruit intake were investigated. A total of 56 children participated in this study, and were randomly assigned to an exposure condition: high-caloric food, low-caloric food, or control. Children who were pre-exposed to a high-caloric food ate more fruit than did those pre-exposed to a low-caloric food. These findings suggest that pre-exposure to high-caloric foods stimulates subsequent intake, including intake of foods that were not previously exposed, while pre-exposure to low-caloric foods does not appear to arouse appetite.