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No Time for Family Meals? Parenting Practices Associated with Adolescent Fruit and Vegetable Intake When Family Meals Are Not an Option.
- Source :
-
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics [J Acad Nutr Diet] 2017 May; Vol. 117 (5), pp. 707-714. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Dec 15. - Publication Year :
- 2017
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Abstract
- Background: Despite research linking family meals to healthier diets, some families are unable to have regular meals together. These families need guidance about other ways to promote healthy eating among adolescents.<br />Objective: Our aim was to examine the association between various parenting practices and adolescent fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake at different levels of family meal frequency.<br />Design: We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based survey of influences on adolescent weight-related behaviors using Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens) 2010.<br />Participants/setting: Participants were 2,491 adolescents recruited from middle/high schools in Minneapolis/St Paul, MN.<br />Measures: Adolescent F/V intake was ascertained with a food frequency questionnaire. Survey items assessed frequency of family meals and F/V parenting practices (availability, accessibility, parent modeling, parent encouragement, and family communication).<br />Statistical Analyses: Linear regression models were used to examine associations with and interactions among family meals and parenting practices. Models were adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and energy intake (kilocalories per day).<br />Results: Family meals, F/V availability, F/V accessibility, F/V modeling, and encouragement to eat healthy foods were independently associated with higher F/V intake. Of the 949 (34%) adolescents who reported infrequent family meals (≤2 days/wk), mean F/V intake was 3.6 servings/day for those with high home F/V availability vs 3.0 servings/day for those with low home F/V availability. Similar differences in mean F/V intake (0.3 to 0.6 servings/day) were found for high vs low F/V accessibility, parental modeling, and parent encouragement for healthy eating. Frequent family meals in addition to more favorable parenting practices were associated with the highest F/V intakes.<br />Conclusions: Food parenting practices and family meals are associated with greater adolescent F/V intake. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to determine which combination of parenting practices will lead to improvements in adolescent diets.<br /> (Copyright © 2017 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2212-2672
- Volume :
- 117
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 27989447
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2016.10.026