Snacks, Smiles and Taste Preferences

This is a longitudinal, randomized, within- and between- subject study of children and their
mothers to determine whether children's repeated exposure to snacks lower in sweetness and
mothers' educational lessons about dental health and nutrition (intervention group) affects
children's acceptance of low sugar snacks, most preferred level of sweet and salty taste, and
dietary intake of added sugars when compared to the control group.

Inclusion Criteria:

- English speaking mother 18 years or older

- Mother has primary responsibility for the eligible child's care

- Mother has primary responsibility for feeding the eligible child

- Mother is responsible for purchasing food for the family

- Mother must be willing to refrain from eating food and beverages high in added sugars
in the eligible child's presence for the duration of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

- Child is in full-day daycare or school

- Child is currently on a special diet (e.g. weight management programs)

- Child has severe food allergies (e.g. gluten, peanuts)

- Child has medical conditions know to affect growth or eating (e.g. diabetes, cystic
fibrosis)

- Mother is a current smoker