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Title: Resemblance of dietary intakes of snacks, sweets, fruit, and vegetables among mother-child dyads from low income families

Author
item WROTEN, KATHRYN - Louisiana State University
item O'NEIL, CAROL - LSU Agcenter
item STUFF, JANICE - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item LIU, YAN - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item NICKLAS, THERESA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Appetite
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/12/2012
Publication Date: 5/23/2012
Citation: Wroten, K.C., O'Neil, C.E., Stuff, J.E., Liu, Y., Nicklas, T.A. 2012. Resemblance of dietary intakes of snacks, sweets, fruit, and vegetables among mother-child dyads from low income families. Appetite. 59:316-323.

Interpretive Summary: It is important to study the relationship between food consumption in mother-child dyad since parental food practices are part of the "family food environment" that can influence eating patterns in young children. We were unable to find studies that have assessed the resemblances in dietary intakes of snacks, sweets, fruits, vegetables, and energy among mother-child dyads from families with limited incomes. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to determine the association between intakes of snacks, sweets, fruits, vegetables, and energy of mothers and children 3-5 yers participating in Head Start. Mothers' consumption of snacks and sweets were associated with their childs' consumption. Fruit and vegetable consumption was low in mothers and their children and consumption was highly associated in the dyads. It is important that nutrition educators address healthy snacking, low consumption of sweets, and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables with mothers so that they are more likely to provide and model consumption of healthy foods for their preschool children. This may be an important strategy in the prevention and reduction of childhood obesity and a way to increase overall diet quality.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between intake of snacks, sweets, fruit, vegetables, and energy in low-income mother–child dyads. This was a secondary analysis of data collected from Head Start centers in Houston, Texas, and Birmingham, Alabama. Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls for one weekend day were collected from mother dyads (N = 650). Means +/- SD were calculated for intake of food categories and energy. Pearson's partial correlation coefficients were used to detect associations between the intakes of the dyads. Main outcome measures were the correlations between the intake of snacks, sweets, fruit, vegetables, and energy in the mother–child dyads. Partial correlations showed that children's intake of snacks, sweets, fruit, vegetables, and energy were all correlated with the mother's intake of these foods/energy. Children's intake of fruit was correlated with the mother's intake of vegetables; children's energy intake was correlated with mother's intake of sweets, fruit, and vegetables. It is important that food and nutrition professionals provide the guidance needed that encourages intake of nutrient-dense snacks and fruit and vegetables in mothers so they can model healthier food consumption behaviors for their children.