Parental Control and Children's Fruit and Vegetable Intake

Strategic Insights -

Parents play a significant role in shaping their children's dietary habits, with recent studies highlighting the importance of parental behavior in influencing children's food choices. A study examining the relationship between parental control, food neophobia, and fruit and vegetable consumption in preschool children found that parents' own intake of fruits and vegetables is a strong predictor of their children's consumption. Furthermore, the level of a child's food neophobia is a significant factor in determining their fruit and vegetable intake, with neophobic children being less likely to try new foods.

Key Takeaways:

  • Parental control over children's eating is correlated with children's fruit and vegetable consumption, with higher levels of control associated with lower intake.
  • Parental fruit and vegetable consumption is a strong predictor of children's fruit and vegetable intake, explaining 21.5% of variance in this sample.
  • The level of a child's food neophobia is a significant predictor of their fruit and vegetable intake, with neophobic children being less likely to try new foods.
  • Including parental control in the model showed no additional effect on children's fruit and vegetable intake.
  • The strong parent-child similarities in fruit and vegetable consumption suggest that parents' own intake is an important factor in shaping children's eating habits.
  • Future interventions aimed at increasing children's intake of fruits and vegetables should target parents' eating habits and feeding practices.

Statistics:

  • 896 pupils from 22 nursery schools in London, UK, participated in the study.
  • 21.5% of variance in children's fruit and vegetable intake was explained by parental consumption of fruits and vegetables.
  • 5.5% of variance was explained by the level of a child's food neophobia.
  • Children's food neophobia was measured using a 10-item scale, with higher scores indicating higher levels of neophobia.
  • Parental control over eating was measured using the 6-item Parental Control Index, with higher scores indicating greater control.
  • The study found no significant sex differences in the association between parental control and children's fruit and vegetable intake.

Sources:

  • Wardle, J., Carnell, S., & Cooke, L. (2005). Parental control over feeding and children's fruit and vegetable intake: How are they related? JADA 105(2):227-232.