Behavioral nutrition: consumption of foods of the future by toddlers.

Behavioral measures of food consumption and tasting were combined with nutrient analysis of foods served at a toddler day-care center to determine whether children at the stage of initial exposure to adult diets would accept textured vegetable protein (TVP) and nonfat dry milk as well as they ate other sources of protein and calcium. Main dishes were prepared alternately with TVP, meat, or neither; others were prepared with or without nonfat dry milk. The variation in ingredients appeared not to affect the amount children ate, the percentage sampling the foods, or the percentage eating half a portion or more. Dishes made with TVP increased protein intake comparable to the amount obtained with meat supplements, and calcium intake increased with nonfat dry-milk supplements. In light of these findings, it appears that TVP and nonfat dry-milk are practical alternative sources of protein and calcium in menus for young children.