Food preferences in families

Preferences for a wide variety of foods were examined in families: 77 students, plus their siblings, mothers and fathers, for a total of 241 subjects. The food preferences of family members were more similar than would be expected by chance. However, this occurred entirely in the comparisons between spouses and between female family members. The results also indicated sex and age differences in family members' food preferences. For example, females tended to prefer low-calorie foods more when they were older, while males tended to prefer alcoholic beverages more when they were older. Both males and females showed a greater preference for coffee when they were older. Some of the variance in food preferences can be explained by an individual's family members' food preferences, as well as by the individual's sex and age.