Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
First Bite summary
How We Learn to Eat
16 mins
Brief summary
'First Bite' by Bee Wilson explains the complex psychology behind our food choices. From childhood to adulthood, our relationship with food is shaped by a range of factors, from culture to biology. Wilson argues that by understanding these factors, we can make healthier and happier decisions about what we eat.
Topics
Table of Contents
First Bite
Summary of 7 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 7
Think you were born to hate certain foods? Think again. Your palate is built through experience.
Have you given up on the possibility of your child ever liking broccoli or brussels sprouts? It might seem as if children are hardwired to hate certain foods, but this simply isn’t the case.
Researchers, whether neurologists or biologists, agree that our palate isn’t something we’re born with but something we learn.
The mainstream consumer, however, is mostly unaware of this fact. Many of us believe that our love for sweets is an evolutionary phenomenon. Humans learned to seek out sweet foods because, unlike bitter foods, they generally weren’t poisonous. So as sugary treats are everywhere, we can blame our brains for being unable to resist the sweet temptation.
And yet here’s an interesting wrinkle. While humans supposedly crave sweet treats, what one person considers sweet may be thought of as bland and tasteless to someone else.
A 2012 study revealed that some individuals don’t get their sweet fix from sugary cereals, but rather prefer a ball of mozzarella or a sun-ripened cob of corn.
There is plenty of sugar in foods that aren’t immediately thought of as sweet. Consider that nearly a third of the population in Western countries doesn’t reach for sweetened cereals for breakfast.
The most important factor in your palate’s development, far more important than your biological makeup, is your food environment.
Which sorts of foods did you grow up eating? If you didn’t consume a lot of sugar as a child, fresh corn on the cob tastes as sweet as can be. But if you gobbled a lot of processed salty snacks and sweet treats, that ear of corn won’t satisfy your craving for sweetness.
In short, taste isn’t something we’re born with but rather something we learn through eating.
Want to see all full key ideas from First Bite?
Key ideas in First Bite
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is First Bite about?
First Bite (2015) reveals the real root of eating problems: our very first childhood experiences with food. Backed by fascinating scientific studies, these blinks explain the perils of marketing food to children and the negative influence of gender norms and well-intentioned families. Finally, they direct us toward positive dietary change.
First Bite Review
First Bite (2015) by Bee Wilson is a fascinating exploration of the world of food and how our tastes and eating habits are shaped. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- Through scientific research and historical anecdotes, the book uncovers the intriguing ways our childhood and environment influence our relationship with food.
- It offers practical insights on how to overcome picky eating, develop healthy eating habits, and ultimately enjoy a more diverse and joyful relationship with food.
- With its engaging storytelling and thought-provoking insights, the book maintains a perfect balance between informative and entertaining, ensuring that it is anything but boring.
Best quote from First Bite
A child will only benefit from a healthy balanced lunch when he or she has developed a taste for healthy balanced food.
—Bee Wilson
Who should read First Bite?
- Parents who want their children to eat healthily
- Individuals worried about binging or comfort eating
- Overweight people struggling to maintain a balanced diet
Categories with First Bite
Book summaries like First Bite
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
34 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
First Bite FAQs
What is the main message of First Bite?
The main message of First Bite is that our food preferences and eating habits are shaped by a variety of factors, and we have the power to change them.
How long does it take to read First Bite?
The reading time for First Bite varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is First Bite a good book? Is it worth reading?
First Bite is a fascinating book that explores the complex world of food preferences. It offers insights and practical advice, making it worth reading for anyone interested in understanding their relationship with food.
Who is the author of First Bite?
The author of First Bite is Bee Wilson.
What to read after First Bite?
If you're wondering what to read next after First Bite, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- How to Raise a Wild Child by Scott D. Sampson
- Healthy Kids, Happy Kids by Elisa Song
- Unlimited Memory by Kevin Horsley
- Good Inside by Becky Kennedy
- The Importance of Being Little by Erika Christakis
- A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume
- Reversing Alzheimer's by Heather Sandison
- Bringing Up Bébé by Pamela Druckerman
- No-Drama Discipline by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
- Small Animals by Kim Brooks