Flavor Perception, Food Choice, and Health in Early Childhood

Abstract

Flavor perception is a complex, multisensory process. Our experience of food, commonly referred to as “taste” or “flavor” derives from the active combination of many sensory modalities, the most obvious of which are gustation (i.e., the qualities of sweet, salty, sour, and bitter) and olfaction (e.g., “fruity”, “smoky”, “vanilla”, etc.). Both gustatory and olfactory qualities contribute to flavor liking, and sensitivity to these qualities has been linked to food selection behaviors. However, it is not known how multisensory flavor perception is expressed in children. A better understanding of how multisensory perception contributes to flavor liking and food choice behavior in childhood will inform intervention strategies that manipulate sensory experience, steering children towards healthier food choice.