A baby’s immune system is not yet fully developed even as they exit the womb and enter a world full of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. Fortunately, in the first few days after birth, a mother’s breastmilk supplies colostrum to help jump start the immune system. As children grow and continue to be exposed to pathogens and other immune challenges, the immune system learns and grows stronger, providing protection into adulthood.

Vitamins and minerals are necessary for the proper functioning of the human body. In the 1700s, James Lind proved that scurvy was curable by consuming citrus fruits while crews were out to sea for prolonged periods of time. Over thousands of years, humans struggled to gain access to a consistent and quality food source that could cover the basics of macro- and micronutrient needs. The advent of animal husbandry and communal farming changed this problem forever. However, the world continues to change, and in recent years the developed nations of the world have the opposite problem: caloric excess.

Humans are social creatures, often eating for pleasure in group settings. While humans may love and appreciate the process and the feelings associated with eating food, there is little thought about the immune and survival advantages provided by the macro- and micronutrients inherent to food. Children are no strangers to eating for pleasure; sweetness dominates the taste preferences of most. It is paramount to understand the baseline biological processes that promote immune health in children versus adults. How do modern food preferences affect a child’s immune biology?