Food parenting practices, family meals, and preschoolers' dietary intake: A study of Hispanic families with low incomes

Authors: POWER, THOMAS - Washington State University; MICHELI, NILDA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); PAPAIOANNOU, MARIA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); HUGHES, SHERYL - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Appetite
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2025
Publication Date: 7/1/2025
Citation: Power, T.G., Micheli, N., Papaioannou, M.A., Hughes, S.O. 2025. Food parenting practices, family meals, and preschoolers' dietary intake: A study of Hispanic families with low incomes. Appetite. 211. Article 108017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2025.108017.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2025.108017

Interpretive Summary: Numerous studies have linked food parenting practices with young children's dietary intake; furthermore, family meals have also been linked with healthier food consumption in children. However, no study has looked at independent contributions of food parenting practices and family meals in predicting young children's dietary quality in the same sample. This study of 253 families with young children ages 3-6 years used a food frequency questionnaire assessing children's dietary intake as well as a measure of family meals (for example: Our family regularly eats dinner together). We found that structure (a food parenting practice) was associated with healthy food intake in children (such as vegetables and whole grains) and external parental control was associated with unhealthy intake in children (such as saturated fats and added sugars). The only dietary intake associated with frequency of family meals was child consumption of whole grains. It may be helpful to suggest that having family meals with children is important; other tips for parents include modeling eating healthy meals, monitoring what children eat, setting rules and limitations, and scheduling meals and snacks at consistent times.

Technical Abstract: Over the last 20 years, numerous studies have helped identify how food parenting practices and family meals are associated with young children's intake of healthy (e.g., fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains) and unhealthy (e.g., added sugars, saturated fats, sugar-sweetened beverages) foods. However, we know of no study to date that has examined the independent contributions of food parenting practices and family meals in predicting young children's dietary quality in the same sample. Because measures assessing food parenting practices and family meals are likely correlated with one another, it is important to understand the independent contributions of each to guide the development and implementation of interventions to promote child health. Hispanic mothers of 3- to 6-year-old children from families with low incomes (N=253) completed questionnaires assessing their food parenting and family meal practices, as well as a food frequency questionnaire assessing their child's dietary intake. Multiple regressions showed that food parenting practices were most consistently associated with children's dietary intake, with healthy intake (e.g., vegetables, whole grains) primarily associated with feeding structure (i.e., regular timing of meals/ snacks, measured portions, and monitoring), and unhealthy intake (e.g., saturated fats, added sugars, sugar-sweetened beverages) positively associated with external control. Restriction showed negative associations with both healthy and unhealthy foods. The only dietary variable independently associated with frequency of family meals was consumption of whole grains. Implications for the design of programs to promote positive child health outcomes are considered.