Parental perspective and feeding practices effects on food neophobia in elementary school children in San Luis Obispo County

Abstract

Food neophobia in children is associated with less consumption of fruit and vegetable (FV). Food neophobia (FN) in children can be influenced by parents and their parental feeding practices. The present study examines the relationship between FN and fruit and vegetable neophobia (FVN) among: (a) parents, (b) parents‐reports on child's behavior, and (c) child self‐reports. The effect of parental feeding practices on child's FN and FVN were also studied. Parents paired with their children (6–12 years) participated in this study. Parents reported their children more neophobic than children who self‐reported, and the association was significant (r = .62, p < .05). FVN were positively correlated with FN in both parents and children. Hispanic and parents without a college degree reported higher levels of restriction for weight control. More pressure to eat was applied for younger children (p < .05). Pressuring children to eat increased their levels of FN and FVN as reported by parents. Practical applications This study gives parents/guardians an insight on how their feeding strategies can influence the food consumption balance of their children. Parents can promote their children's eating habits toward consuming more fruit and vegetable by avoiding pressure while encouraging their children to have a more dietary variety.

Food neophobia and its association with sociodemographic factors and food preferences among Bangladeshi university students: Evidence from a cross-sectional study

“…Congruent with the results of other studies [ [49] , [50] , [51] ], family income was found to significantly influence food neophobia among Bangladeshi university students. Parents with a high income often have fewer restrictions for weight and food control strategies for their children, who often enjoy the liberty and resources to explore and be exposed to different varieties of food [ 49 ].…”

“…Congruent with the results of other studies [ [49] , [50] , [51] ], family income was found to significantly influence food neophobia among Bangladeshi university students. Parents with a high income often have fewer restrictions for weight and food control strategies for their children, who often enjoy the liberty and resources to explore and be exposed to different varieties of food [ 49 ]. Perhaps, this explains why it is that Bangladeshi university students from homes with family incomes greater than 35,000 BDT per month had a lower food neophobia score as compared to their counterparts.…”

A narrative review on food neophobia throughout the lifespan: relationships with dietary behaviours and interventions to reduce it

“…Furthermore, in studies conducted with children and adolescents, some used the FNS as filled in by parents instead of children, while others used the Child FNS. Although there was a strong correlation between parent-reported child food neophobia and child self-reported food neophobia (152) , the way in which neophobia is assessed is important. For example, a recent systematic review (11) excluded studies in which parents assessed the food neophobia of their children.…”