Patterns of food parenting practices regarding fruit and vegetables among parent-adolescent dyads

Authors: Thomson, Jessica

Submitted to: Trade Journal Publication
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/13/2022
Publication Date: 6/9/2022
Citation: Thomson, J.L. 2022. Patterns of food parenting practices regarding fruit and vegetables among parent-adolescent dyads. Trade Journal Publication. 73:4. Available: https://www.aprifel.com/en/global-fv-newsletter/parental-feeding-practices-and-dietary-behaviour-of-children-2/.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Aspects of the home food environment, such as food parenting practices (e.g., restriction, pressure to eat, monitoring, encouragement), can influence children’s diet and food preferences. This publication is a summary of food (fruit and vegetable) parenting practice patterns observed in a large cohort of parents and their children (12-17 years of age). Paired parent-child survey data from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating Study, a cross-sectional, Internet-based study, conducted in 2014 were analyzed to identify patterns of parent- and child-reported fruit and vegetable parenting practices. Based on 1,657 parent-child pairs, five patterns were identified representing complete use of the six fruit and vegetable parenting practices to almost no use of the practices. Thus, distinct patterns of parenting practices exist and are associated with parent and adolescent demographic characteristics, dietary intake, and legitimacy of parental authority (belief that parents have the right to set rules about adolescent behavior). The combination of availability, modeling, and encouragement practices may be more effective for promoting fruit and vegetable intake than pressure to eat, monitoring, and child involvement. Considering that parents are not all the same in their use of parenting practices, a more personalized approach may be needed when designing interventions to positively affect children’s dietary intake.