Factors influencing the food choices of urban Sri Lankan preschool children: Focus groups with parents and caregivers

Sirasa, Fathima; Mitchell, Lana; Silva, Renuka; Harris, Neil

doi:10.1016/j.appet.2020.104649

Cited by 17 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…As with other food categories, the consumption of edible flowers involves a complex decision process, when making food choices. These food choices are related to the products’ characteristics but also to the individual’s history and context, including integration of personal ideas, resources and social influences with the social, cultural and physical environments [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. With regard to EF, some people consider the unique combination of their pleasant visual aspect, color, aroma, taste, shape and nutrition, consequently invoking these reasons when deciding to consume EF.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Edible Flowers, Old Tradition or New Gastronomic Trend: A First Look at Consumption in Portugal versus Costa Rica

Guiné

Florença

Moya

et al. 2020

Foods

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This study investigated the knowledge and use of edible flowers (EF) in two countries, Portugal, in Europe, and Costa Rica, in Latin America, and aimed to evaluate the similarities and/or differences regarding the utilization of EF in gastronomy. This work consisted of a questionnaire survey, undertaken on a sample of 290 participants. The results indicate that most people surveyed (87%) have heard about EF but believe there is not enough information about them (96%). Only one third of participants consider there are risks associated with the consumption of EF, being those related to toxicity and pesticides. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between participants from the two countries but not with different professional areas. About half (48%) of the participants had already consumed EF, mostly for decoration or confection of dishes (77% positive answers) and in salads (75%). The flowers consumed most frequently were chamomile and rose, respectively, in Costa Rica and Portugal. Reasons pointed out to consume EF include decoration, taste, novelty and aroma, while aspects such as nutritional value or antioxidant capacity are prized by fewer consumers. EF were mostly acquired in supermarkets, cultivated at home or collected in the wild. In general, most participants (85%) consider the use of EF in gastronomy interesting, but less than one third (27%) believe we should eat EF more often. Finally, discriminant function analysis revealed that country was the variable for which the differences in the consumption of EF was more pronounced, while education level and age group showed the lowest variability between groups.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Edible Flowers, Old Tradition or New Gastronomic Trend: A First Look at Consumption in Portugal versus Costa Rica

Guiné

Florença

Moya

et al. 2020

Foods

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“…The MCI, underpinned by Bronfenbrenner's Ecological System Theory (10) , focused on improving the dietary diversity of children by developing food preferences of the child toward healthy food (individual characteristics), improving the nutritional knowledge of parent/caregiver and creating a supportive food environment for the child. Selection of these factors was based on a systematic review conducted in low-and middle-income countries as well as Sri Lankan parents and caregivers' perception of factors influencing their preschool children's food intake (12,23) . Therefore, the MCI arm included child nutrition education plus family engagement as nutrition education for parents via group sessions; family participation in meal preparation; and tasting exposure for children with parents, teachers and peers at the preschool centres guided by the research team.…”

Section: Study Design and Intervention Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although preschool children have the ability to distinguish foods as either healthy or unhealthy (20)(21)(22) , this may not translate into healthier food choices (19) . This may, at least in part, be explained by the parental belief that their preschool child's food preferences are shaped by sensory cues of taste and appearance of the food (23) . Therefore, a comprehensive approach beyond nutritional education to children and caregivers is required to modify children's food preferences.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conversely, more than onethird of children consumed sugary snacks and confectionaries daily with 1 in 10 having them twice a day (35) . A qualitative investigation conducted among Sri Lankan urban parents/caregivers has reported food preferences of the child as the core factor that drives food choices of preschool children (23) . Family income, nutritional knowledge of the family, maternal control of food choices and household food preparation facilities were also selected by these parents as most influential.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Family income, nutritional knowledge of the family, maternal control of food choices and household food preparation facilities were also selected by these parents as most influential. This highlights the need for effective eating interventions using a comprehensive approach to modify food preferences of the child and family characteristics in Sri Lanka (23) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A 6-week healthy eating intervention with family engagement improves food knowledge and preferences but not dietary diversity among urban preschool children in Sri Lanka

Sirasa

Mitchell

Azhar

et al. 2021

Public Health Nutr.

Self Cite

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Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention (MCI) on children’s dietary diversity and its impact pathway components of children’s food knowledge and healthy food preferences. Design: A six-week cluster randomised controlled trial with a MCI consisting of child nutrition education plus family engagement, through parental nutrition education, meal preparation and tasting was compared with two groups: single component intervention (SCI) of child nutrition education, and control, conducted during February to July 2018. Preschool centres were randomly assigned to one of the three arms. Children’s food knowledge, healthy food preferences and dietary diversity scores were collected. Intervention effects were analysed using a pre-post analysis and a difference-in-difference model. Setting: Fourteen preschool centres in an urban area of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka Participants: Child-parent dyads of children aged 4-6 years. Final analyses included 306 (for food knowledge and preferences) and 258 (for dietary diversity) dyads. Results: MCI significantly influenced the impact pathways to children’s dietary diversity by increasing children’s food knowledge and healthy food preferences scores by 3.76 and 2.79 (P<0.001) respectively, but not the dietary diversity score (P=0.603), compared to control arm. Relative to SCI, MCI significantly improved children’s food knowledge score by 1.10 (P<0.001), but no significant effects were noted for other outcome variables. Conclusion: Improved food knowledge and preferences require a positive food environment and time to develop into healthy eating behaviours. Research into dietary diversity should broaden to incorporate the contextual roles of the home and general food environments to more completely understand food choices of children.

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Food environment framework in low- and middle-income countries - An integrative review

Gupta,

Deshmukh,

Verma

et al. 2023

Global Food Security

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Factors influencing the food choices of urban Sri Lankan preschool children: Focus groups with parents and caregivers

Cited by 17 publications

References 46 publications

Edible Flowers, Old Tradition or New Gastronomic Trend: A First Look at Consumption in Portugal versus Costa Rica

Edible Flowers, Old Tradition or New Gastronomic Trend: A First Look at Consumption in Portugal versus Costa Rica

A 6-week healthy eating intervention with family engagement improves food knowledge and preferences but not dietary diversity among urban preschool children in Sri Lanka

Food environment framework in low- and middle-income countries - An integrative review

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