Kids Who Eat More Fruit and Vegetables Share Key Character Trait

Children who are caring and kind may be more likely to develop healthy eating habits in adolescence, a new study has found.

The findings, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine , indicate that encouraging so-called "prosocial behavior" during childhood could serve as a potential approach to support healthy eating habits .

Researchers led by social epidemiologist professor Farah Qureshi of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health analyzed data from the UK's Millennium Cohort Study—a nationally representative longitudinal study that tracked children from birth through adolescence.

By examining data from children aged five to 17, researchers found a consistent and meaningful link between prosocial behaviors—like caring for others, cooperating and helping—and