Grandparental dietary provision, feeding practices and feeding styles when caring for preschool‐aged grandchildren: A systematic mixed methods review

Abstract

Summary Grandparents are frequently relied upon to care for their preschool‐aged grandchildren. These early years are a crucial age in the development of dietary habits and preferences. This review aims to determine grandparental dietary provision, feeding practices and feeding styles when caring for their preschool‐aged grandchildren. Medline, PsycInfo and Web of Science were searched in January 2020. A systematic mixed methods approach was used to synthesize the qualitative (n = 13) and quantitative (n = 7) articles describing grandparents' feeding styles (n = 9), feeding practices (n = 14) and dietary provision (n = 18). Grandparents are serving large portion sizes and encouraging their grandchildren to eat frequently. Results are mixed for the types of foods provided; grandparents provide discretionary foods high in sugar and fat, and some also choose more expensive core foods as treats (e.g., berries). Grandparents engage in feeding practices that promote healthy eating (e.g., creating a healthy feeding environment) and promote autonomy and independence (e.g., considering their grandchild's preferences). However, they also use some coercive feeding practices (e.g., using food as a reward) and may be using indulgent feeding styles, which can be conducive to obesogenic dietary intakes. Interventions targeting grandparents could be an effective way to improve dietary‐related health outcomes in young children.

A qualitative study on the perspectives of Turkish mothers and grandmothers in the Netherlands regarding the influence of grandmothers on health related practices in the first 1000 days of a child’s life

“…It is well-known that grandparents encourage their grandchildren to eat larger portion sizes and give frequently food to them throughout the day. Studies described also that even though grandparents create a healthy food environment at their home by the availability and accessibility of it, they provide mostly discretionary foods to their grandchildren in order to indulge them [ 46 , 47 ]. From an evolutionary perspective, a community’s concern with children being well-fed can be explained in terms of the need to ensure that young children survive and thrive in order to safeguard the future preservation and integrity of the community [ 48 ].…”

Undergraduate medical education interventions aimed at managing patients with obesity: A systematic review of educational effectiveness

“…Overall risk of bias was calculated for each study by first summing the ratings across both reviewers, and then by combining answers from Yes and Yes/Cannot tell , and No and No/Cannot tell categories, into simplified Yes and No categories, respectively. The subsequent total number of Yes , Cannot Tell , and No responses for each study was calculated as a percentage of the number of items on that particular CASP checklist, and represented graphically, to provide a measure of risk of bias; an approach similar to that taken by other recent mixed‐methods systematic reviews in this domain 17,18 . Percentages specific to each CASP checklist were calculated since the number of items differed between CASP checklists, preventing direct comparisons.…”

“…15 study was calculated as a percentage of the number of items on that particular CASP checklist, and represented graphically, to provide a measure of risk of bias; an approach similar to that taken by other recent mixed-methods systematic reviews in this domain. 17,18 Percentages specific to each CASP checklist were calculated since the number of items differed between CASP checklists, preventing direct comparisons.…”

The influence of grandparents on grandchildren. Scoping review.

“…The eating environment that grandparents provide during early childhood, no doubt, helps to shape children's food preferences, as well as their subsequent selection patterns and eating styles 3,40,41 . Grandparents in the roles of caregivers can negatively influence food intake and the weight of grandchildren 24 .…”

“…The sensation produced by the food and the care provided by the grandmothers are fixed in the grandchildren's memories surprisingly and can leave important marks in their life, making them safer, more affective, and healthier 14 . Grandparents can be an important audience to be targeted in future child nutrition interventions 24 and in the formulation of health policies to deal with childhood obesity 20,26,33,40 .…”