Australian ten year olds’ perceptions of food: I. sex differences

Two studies of senior primary school children’s food perceptions are reported. In the first 481 boys and girls judged twelve foods on eleven food properties (attributes). Few differences between the sexes’ perceptions were found. The boys and girls appeared to view the foods along two cognitive dimensions. The first was a food belief continuum contrasting “fattening” and “healthy” foods; the second was a sensory preference continuum. In the second study 570 children completed two forms. On each form there was a random selection of ten foods which were to be judged against twelve attributes. In all, the children’s perceptions of 38 foods on sixteen attributes were examined. Again, the children’s perceptions were represented along “goodness” and sensory-preference dimensions. Reported food intakes were more related to sensory properties and perceived maternal food intakes, than to “healthful” aspects of foods. Major differences between the boys' and girls' perceptions of certain foods, mainly snack foods, were observed. These may be related to sex role socialization or to physiological processes.