Parental food choices for children when eating out: attitudes and impact of healthy choice menu labelling based on a hypothetical scenario

Abstract

Objective: To understand how healthy menu labelling information is used by parents/caregivers and where it fits within predictors of healthy meal choices when eating out. Design: Parents were recruited to complete a 15-min observational, online survey regarding their experiences and hypothetical choices when eating out with their child/ren. Setting: Australia. Participants: Eligible participants had one or more child/ren aged between 2 and 12 years and attended cafes, restaurants, hotels and clubs (CRHC) for lunch or dinner at least four times a year. Of initial respondents (n 1802), 92·5 % provided complete and valid data. Participants were 84·7 % female, ranging from 18 to 68 years old. Results: 98·3 % believed that healthier alternatives should be available for children in CRHC. For general food choices, health was a strong motivator (45·7 %); however, parents reported eating at CRHC mainly for pleasure or a treat (61·2 %) and being driven by children’s taste preferences (85·9 %) when selecting menu items. 59·0 % of orders included a combination of healthy and traditional items. 42·0 % of the sample were influenced by the healthy choice (HC) labelling. Multiple regression revealed that, in addition to some demographic variables, the percent of HC ordered was positively associated with self-reported parent vegetable consumption, making food choices for the children for health reasons, familiarity with HC items and making order choices due to dietary needs and good nutrition. Conclusions: Despite a preference for availability of healthier children’s menu choices in CRHC, menu labelling highlighting healthy options may have limited impact relative to child preferences.

Qualitative menu labelling in university restaurants and its influence on food choices: A systematic review and synthesis without meta‐analysis

“…on menus, table displays or menu boards, or besides food items at buffets, and counters) (Fernandes et al, 2016). Although the adjective ‘qualitative’ is usually applied to a research method, authors have adopted the term ‘qualitative menu label’ to refer to descriptive or non‐numerical interpretive labels in out‐of‐home settings (Basak et al, 2018; Brindal et al, 2021; Fernandes et al, 2019; Fly, 2017; Hanssen et al, 2021; Kerins et al, 2018; Oliveira et al, 2018; Schneider et al, 2022; Warner et al, 2022).…”