Kids Act Out More When They Bite Their Food Instead of Chew It
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Photodisc/Thinkstock(ITHACA, N.Y.) — Parents who want their kids to cut out the fooling around during meals should cut up their food – no joke.
Cornell University researchers believe it all has to do with their teeth, that is, children seem to act up more when they eat foods that involve biting down with their front teeth, such as chicken drumsticks, apples or corn on the cob.
In an experiment, 12 kids ages six-to-10 were divided into two groups at a 4-H summer camp with half getting drumsticks and the other half having their chicken cut up. In addition, all the youngsters were also told to remain inside a circle with a nine-foot radius. The next day, the groups had their meals reversed with the same instructions about the circle.
According to Cornell researcher Brian Wansink, when the kids were served chicken drumsticks, “they were twice as likely to disobey adults and twice as aggressive toward other kids.” Not only that but the drumstick eaters also left the circle more often than kids who ate chicken in pieces.
Again, Wansink says kids seem to act out more when they have to bite into their food rather than simply chew it.
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