A team from the University of Oregon in the US found that children who drink more water make better food choices and have a healthier appetite for vegetables.
The researchers, who looked at the drinks and vegetables consumed by 75 children aged three to five, found the kids ate more raw vegetables such as carrots or peppers, when they had water with a meal rather than a soft drink.
Study co-author Professor Bettina Cornwell said that from an early age children learn to associate sweet, high-calorie drinks such as colas with salty and fatty foods like chips.
"Our taste preferences are heavily influenced by repeated exposure to particular foods and drinks," she was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.
"This begins early through exposure to meals served at home and by meal combinations offered by many restaurants.
"Our simple recommendation is to serve water with all meals. Restaurants easily could use water as their default drink in kids' meal combos and charge extra for other drink alternatives," she added.
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The researchers said serving water could be a simple and effective dietary change to help address the world's growing obesity problem, which has seen increasing number of diabetes cases in young adults and a rise in healthcare costs.
The study suggests that early palate development may influence choices later in life, said Dr Kimberly Espy, head of research and innovation at the University of Oregon.
"This important research has broad ramifications for how foods are marketed and served. Addressing the early contributors of unhealthy eating that contribute to obesity is important for our general well-being as a nation and, especially, for improving the nutritional choices our children will make over their lifetimes," Espy said.
The study was published in the journal Appetite.