Choices at weaning: main factor in ingestive behavior.

"Spontaneous," i.e., self-promoted, feeding without the promotion of offering of energy-dense food (eating incentives), was maintained for 7 months in a randomized, controlled, prospective, semiblind investigation in 88 2-year-old diarrheic children. This behavior was associated with 30% lower energy intake throughout the investigation period while normal growth and blood assessments were maintained and intestinal functions improved. The dependence of a child's energy intake on maternal administrative behavior at each meal was proposed. The energy content of each meal was thus investigated in relation to a preprandial request for food, glycemia, and acceptance of nonstarchy vegetables (NSV). A sample of 210 meals eaten by 10 children with chronic nonspecific diarrhea in the second year of life before mothers were instructed in spontaneous feeding was compared with 210 meals after 1.5 months of spontaneous feeding. Compliance, food weight, preprandial glycemia, and outdoor activities were reported by the mothers in 7-day diaries. Requests for food by the child before the meal was seen and acceptance of more than two-thirds of the prescribed amount of NSV were associated with significantly lower preprandial glycemia and lower energy intake in the investigation of all meals before and after instructions were given. Feeding children on demand and habitual NSV administration may safely educate children to avoid overeating after weaning.