Baby's Palate And Food Memories Shaped Before Birth

An interesting podcast and story on NPR today discusses how an infant's food preferences can be shaped while still in the womb. While developing, the baby consumes several ounces of amniotic fluid daily which is flavored with the foods and beverages that the mother has consumed within the last few hours.

University of Florida taste researcher Linda Bartoshukuk believes that it might be possible to get a baby used to a healthier diet by exposing to flavors like carrots early on. If those taste experiences are reinforced as the baby grows, it may even promote healthy eating.

Study: Paying Cash, Not Credit, Leads to Healthier Food Choices

According to a new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, paying with cash instead of plastic leads to more careful spending and healthier food choices. Researchers followed the grocery shopping habits of 1,000 households for six months, tracking what they bought and how they paid for it. The study found that those who used debit/credit cards more frequently tended to make unplanned/impulsive purchases that included more unhealthy foods.