Leveraging ecological momentary assessment to understand variability in food parenting practices within a low-income racially/ethnically diverse sample of parents of preschoolers.

Children's eating behaviors are shaped significantly by their home food environment, including exposure to food parenting practices. The current study leveraged ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to describe how food parenting practices used to feed preschoolers (n = 116) differed across contextual factors around eating, including type of eating occasion (i.e., meals vs. snacks), day of the week (i.e., weekend vs. weekday), who initiated the meal (parent vs. child), emotional climate of the eating occasion. Parent perceptions of how well the eating occasion went, including how well the child ate and whether the food parenting practices worked as intended were also explored. Parent use of specific food parenting practices, situated within four higher-order domains (i.e., structure, autonomy support, coercive control, indulgent), was found to differ by type of eating occasion; parents engaged in a higher proportion of structure practices at meals than at snacks. Use of specific food parenting practices differed by mealtime emotional climate; parent use of structure and autonomy support was associated with eating occasions described as relaxed, enjoyable, neutral, and fun. Finally, parent perception of how well the child ate differed by use of specific food parenting practices; during eating occasions when parent's felt their child ate "not enough", they used less autonomy support and more coercive control compared to eating occasions where the child ate "enough and a good balance." Leveraging EMA allowed for increased understanding of the variability in food parenting practices and contextual factors. Findings may be utilized to inform the development of larger-scale studies seeking to understand why parents choose specific approaches to feeding their children, as well as the impact of various approaches to child feeding on child health outcomes.

Children's experiences of meals after obesity treatment: a qualitative follow-up four years after a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The practice of eating together, commensality, is rarely explored in the context of childhood obesity treatment. This is noteworthy given long-standing debates about the physical, psychosocial, and societal benefits of meals, especially family meals. Moreover, as children with obesity experience weight bias and stigma both within and outside the home, it is important to examine meals as a locus of social exchange around food and the body. Our study is based on the premises that eating together (i) matters and (ii) occurs in different environments with diverse social organization, where food-related interactions create varying arrangements of individuals, groups, their statuses, and their actions. METHOD: The study explores children's experiences of meals in different social contexts. Thirty-two children (age 8-10 years) living in Sweden were interviewed, 4 years after they entered an obesity intervention trial. Thematic analysis was applied to the data. RESULTS: We thematized three meal types, with each meal type having two subthemes: (i) "The family meal", with "Shared routines, rituals, and rules" and "Individual solutions and choices"; (ii) "The school meal", with "Rules and norms of the school" and "Strategies of the child"; and (iii) "The friend meal", with "Handling food that was disliked" and "Enjoyment of food". These three different meal types carried different experiences of and knowledge about how they were socially organized. CONCLUSIONS: While the children spoke about the family and school meals as meaningful, the friend meal stood out as particularly positive. Contrary to our expectations, the children did not express experiences of weight bias or obesity stigma around meals, nor did they speak negatively about parental control of their food intake. Our findings, especially regarding the friend meal, have implications for further research into commensality and social influences on eating among children with obesity, from early childhood into adolescence.

To like or not to like: Negotiating food assessments of children from families with a low socioeconomic position.

The present study explored how primary school-aged children from families with a low socioeconomic position produce 'likes' and 'dislikes' of foods during everyday family meals, and how these (dis)likes are understood and treated by their parents. It is crucial to understand how food preferences develop in the course of everyday life, as it is known that there are socioeconomic disparities in food preference and consumption, and that children from families with a low socioeconomic position have relatively poorer diets. Deploying an interactional approach to food preference, video recordings of 79 evening meals in families with a low socioeconomic position were analyzed using discursive psychology and conversation analysis. The analysis highlighted that children's food likes and dislikes were treated differently by their parents. While likes were routinely not responded to, agreed with or further elaborated, dislikes were predominantly oriented to as food refusals or treated as inappropriate, or non-genuine claims. Children's food assessments, i.e., likes and dislikes, were often disattended by parents when they appeared to be food preference displays. By contrast, assessments that accomplished social actions like refusals and complaints were more often responded to. The analysis also revealed the importance of distinguishing between assessments about food items in general, that were not currently being eaten, and assessments of food eaten here-and-now. All in all, the study evidences that and how assessment sequences open up interactional spaces where children and parents orient to and negotiate relative rights and responsibilities to know, to assess and to accomplish specific actions. Implications for food preference research are discussed.

Strategies to Improve School Meal Consumption: A Systematic Review.

School meals can play an integral role in improving children's diets and addressing health disparities. Initiatives and policies to increase consumption have the potential to ensure students benefit from the healthy school foods available. This systematic review evaluates studies examining initiatives, interventions, and policies to increase school meal consumption. Following PRISMA guidelines, this review was conducted using four databases and resulted in a total of 96 studies. The research evidence supports the following strategies to increase school meal consumption: (1) offering students more menu choices; (2) adapting recipes to improve the palatability and/or cultural appropriateness of foods; (3) providing pre-sliced fruits; (4) rewarding students who try fruits and vegetables; (5) enabling students to have sufficient time to eat with longer (~30 min) lunch periods; (6) having recess before lunch; and (7) limiting students' access to competitive foods during the school day. Research findings were mixed when examining the impact of nutrition education and/or offering taste tests to students, although multiple benefits for nutrition education outside the cafeteria were documented. There is some evidence that choice architecture (i.e., "Smarter Lunchroom") techniques increase the proportion of students who select targeted meal components; however, there is not evidence that these techniques alone increase consumption. There were limited studies of the impact of increasing portion sizes; serving vegetables before other meal components; and strengthening local district and/or school wellness policies, suggesting that further research is necessary. Additionally, longer-term studies are needed to understand the impact of policies that limit students' access to flavored milk. Several studies found increases in students' meal consumption following the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) and concerns regarding an increase in food waste following the HHFKA were not supported. Overall, there are a range of effective strategies to increase school meal consumption that can be implemented by schools, districts, and policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels (PROSPERO registration: CRD42021244688).

Investigating the Relationship between Perceived Meal Colour Variety and Food Intake across Meal Types in a Smartphone-Based Ecological Momentary Assessment.

Although most people are aware of the health benefits of consuming sufficient amounts of fruit and vegetables, many do not adhere to current dietary recommendations. Recent studies have suggested meal colour variety as an intuitive cue for healthy and enjoyable lunch meal choices. The present study extends this research by testing the "colourful = healthy" association across meal types. Using smartphone-based Ecological Momentary Assessment, 110 participants recorded 2818 eating occasions over a period of eight days. For each eating occasion, a picture, a short written description of the meal, the meal type (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, snack) and the perceived meal colour variety were recorded. Foods were classified into seven food groups based on the pictures and descriptions. Data were analysed using multilevel modelling. For all meal types except afternoon tea which did not include vegetables, perceived that meal colour variety was positively related to vegetable consumption (bs ≥ 0.001, ts ≥ 3.27, ps ≤ 0.002, quasi-R2s ≥ 0.06). Moreover, perceived meal colour variety was negatively associated with sweets consumption for breakfast, dinner and snacks (bs ≤ -0.001, ts ≤ -2.82, ps ≤ 0.006, quasi-R2s ≥ 0.01). The "colourful = healthy" association can be generalized across meal types and thus may be a promising strategy to promote a healthier diet.

Eating meals with parents is associated with better quality of diet for Brazilian adolescents. / Fazer refeições com os pais está associado à maior qualidade da alimentação de adolescentes brasileiros.

The objective was to investigate how often Brazilian adolescents eat meals with their parents and verify the association between this habit and quality of the diet. Data were from the Brazilian National Survey of School Health (PeNSE-2015). The sample consisted of adolescents enrolled in the ninth grade in public and private schools, ranging in age from 11 to 19 years. The target exposure was eating meals with parents (0-4 and ≥ 5 days/week) and the outcomes were frequent consumption (≥ 5 days/week) of healthy and unhealthy dietary markers. Healthy diet scores (range 0-21) and unhealthy diet scores (range 0-35) were based on total days that the adolescent reported consuming each of the dietary markers. Poisson and linear regression models were used, adjusted by sociodemographic variables. Frequent sharing of meals with parents (≥ 5 days/week) was seen in 74% (95%CI: 73.4-74.7) of the adolescents. Those reporting this habit showed higher likelihood of frequent consumption of beans (PR = 1.22; 95%CI: 1.19-1.26), fruits (PR = 1.34; 95%CI: 1.28-1.39), and vegetables (PR = 1.39; 95%CI: 1.34-1.44), and lower likelihood of frequent consumption of sweets (PR = 0.91; 95%CI: 0.88-0.94), ultra-processed salty foods (PR = 0.91; 95%CI: 0.87-0.94), and fried salty snacks (PR = 0.85; 95%CI: 0.80-0.90). Eating meals with parents was positively associated with healthy diet scores and inversely associated with unhealthy diet scores . Eating meals with parents is a common habit in Brazilian adolescents and is associated with better quality of diet.

O objetivo foi investigar a frequência com que os adolescentes brasileiros realizam as refeições com os pais e verificar a associação deste hábito com a qualidade da dieta. Foram utilizados dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar - 2015 (PeNSE). A amostra foi composta por adolescentes matriculados no nono ano do ensino fundamental de escolas públicas e privadas, com idades entre 11 e 19 anos. A exposição de interesse foi realizar refeições com os pais (0-4 e ≥ 5 dias/semana) e os desfechos estudados foram consumo frequente (≥ 5 dias/semana) de alimentos marcadores de alimentação saudável e não saudável. Escores de alimentação saudável (variação 0-21) e não saudável (variação 0-35) foram elaborados com base no somatório dos dias que o adolescente relatou consumir cada um dos marcadores de alimentação. Foram usados modelos de regressão de Poisson e linear, ajustados por variáveis sociodemográficas. A realização frequente de refeições com os pais (≥ 5 dias/semana) foi observada em 74% (IC95%: 73,4-74,7) dos adolescentes. Aqueles que afirmaram ter esse hábito apresentaram maior probabilidade do consumo frequente de feijão (RP = 1,22; IC95%: 1,19-1,26), frutas (RP = 1,34; IC95%: 1,28-1,39) e hortaliças (RP = 1,39; IC95%: 1,34-1,44); e menor probabilidade de consumo frequente de guloseimas (RP = 0,91; IC95%: 0,88-0,94), ultraprocessados salgados (RP = 0,91; IC95%: 0,87-0,94) e salgados fritos (RP = 0,85; IC95%: 0,80-0,90). Realizar as refeições com os pais foi positivamente associado ao escores de alimentação saudável e inversamente associado ao escores de alimentação não saudável. O hábito de realizar refeições com os pais é frequente entre adolescentes brasileiros e está associado à melhor qualidade da alimentação.

El objetivo fue investigar la frecuencia con la que los adolescentes brasileños comen con los padres y verificar la asociación de este hábito con la calidad de la dieta. Se utilizaron datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud del Escolar - 2015 (PeNSE). La muestra estaba compuesta por adolescentes matriculados en el noveno año de enseñanza fundamental de escuelas públicas y privadas, con edades entre 11 y 19 años. La exposición de interés fue realizar comidas con los padres (0-4 y ≥ 5 días/semana) y los resultados estudiados fueron consumo frecuente (≥ 5 días/semana) de alimentos marcadores de alimentación saludable y no saludable. Los marcadores de alimentación saludable (variación 0-21) y no saludable (variación 0-35) se elaboraron basándose en el sumatorio de los días en los que el adolescente informó consumir cada uno de los marcadores de alimentación. Se usaron modelos de regresión de Poisson y lineales, ajustados por variables sociodemográficas. La realización frecuente de comidas con los padres (≥ 5 días/semana) se observó en un 74% (IC95%: 73,4-74,7) de los adolescentes. Aquellos que afirmaron tener ese hábito presentaron una mayor probabilidad de consumo frecuente de frijoles (RP = 1,22; IC95%: 1,19-1,26), frutas (RP = 1,34; IC95%: 1,28-1,39) y hortalizas (RP = 1,39; IC95%: 1,34-1,44); y menor probabilidad de consumo frecuente de golosinas (RP = 0,91; IC95%: 0,88-0,94), aperitivos ultraprocesados (RP = 0,91; IC95%: 0,87-0,94) y aperitivos fritos (RP = 0,85; IC95%: 0,80-0,90). Realizar las comidas con los padres estuvo positivamente asociado al marcadores de alimentación saludable e inversamente asociado al marcadores de alimentación no saludable. El hábito de realizar comidas con los padres es frecuente entre adolescentes brasileños y está asociado a una mejor calidad de la alimentación.

[Determinants of satisfaction with food-related life in older Chileans adults]. / Determinantes de la satisfacción con la alimentación en adultos mayores chilenos.

INTRODUCTION: The present study seeks to determine which demographic and behavioral factors affect satisfaction with food-related life in older Chilean adults. A questionnaire was applied to 785 older adults belonging to the adult centers of 30 communes in the Maule region, Chile. The questionnaires Satisfaction with Food-related Life, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Subjective Happiness Scale and independence in Activities of the Daily Life were applied. Sociodemographic characterization questions were included, in addition to questions about the consumption of eleven groups of foods and drinks at home, besides the expenses in restaurants. A descriptive analysis and logistic regression were performed, using statistical adjustment measures and collinearity diagnosis of the variables. In conclusion, the main factors positively related to a high satisfaction related to food are the female gender, being married or in a couple, greater perception of satisfaction with life and consumption of fish and wine. Good levels of commensality were determined in the three meals studied; consequently, reuniting the family and sharing daily can contribute positively to well-being. However, satisfaction with food was higher in rural areas than in urban areas and the group with the highest age (> 80 years) reported lower satisfaction with food when it was analyzed in a bivariable manner.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El presente trabajo busca determinar qué factores demográficos y conductuales inciden sobre la satisfacción con la vida relacionada con la alimentación de los adultos mayores (AM) de la región del Maule, Chile. Se aplicó un cuestionario a 785 AM pertenecientes a los Centros del Adulto Mayor de 30 comunas de la región del Maule, Chile. Se aplicaron los cuestionarios Satisfaction with Food-related Life, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Subjective Happiness Scale y cuestionario de independencia en Actividades de la Vida Diaria. Se incluyeron preguntas de caracterización sociodemográficas sobre el consumo de once grupos de alimentos y bebidas en el hogar, además de los gastos en restaurantes. Se realizó análisis descriptivo y regresión logística, utilizando medidas de ajuste estadístico y diagnóstico de colinealidad de las variables. En conclusión, los principales factores relacionados positivamente con una alta satisfacción relacionada con los alimentos son el sexo femenino, estar casado o en pareja, mayor percepción de satisfacción con la vida y el consumo de pescado y vino. Se determinaron buenos niveles de comensalidad en las tres comidas estudiadas. En consecuencia, reunir a la familia y compartir a diario puede contribuir positivamente al bienestar. Sin embargo, la satisfacción con la alimentación fue mayor en las áreas rurales que en las urbanas y el grupo con mayor edad (> 80 años) reportó menor satisfacción con la alimentación cuando fue analizado de forma bivariable.

Family meals in Santiago de Chile: An analysis of the role of family, gender and social class in commensality.

Family meals are part of the social reproduction process of "making a family", but few studies have been performed outside Europe or North America and few of them have considered different family arrangements and cultural scenarios. This study aimed to examine how socio-demographic characteristics influence the probability of eating with family members only, drawing on the case of Santiago, Chile. In this study we analyze the commensal practices of 625 adults living in Santiago, and explore how these practices are influenced by family structure and social background. Respondents kept a seven-days food journal recording what they ate, when, where and with whom, resulting in 14,085 recorded food events (average 3.2 foods per day per person). Logistic regressions were estimated predicting the probability of eating with family members. The results showed that a high percentage of food events, namely, 63% of them, took place with family members only. Moreover, the probability of eating with family members differed between meals when considering different socio-demographics characteristics: working status and sex were more significant for breakfasts and lunches, while social class and the presence of children only gained importance for lunches and evening meals. On the other hand, the existence of a partner of the head of household was the most significant variable in predicting family meals, which can be associated with the feeling of "making a family" that family meals provide. Finally, unlike international evidence, in Santiago the working class is more likely to eat with family members only, compared to the service class. These findings reveal the importance of studying family commensality in different cultural scenarios, where other contextual or structural mechanisms could be operating when family meals take place.

Assessment of the influence of food attributes on meal choice selection by socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity among women living in Chicago, USA: A discrete choice experiment.

Large and persistent obesity disparities exist in the US by socioeconomic status (SES) and race/ethnicity, and weight loss interventions have traditionally been less effective in these populations. Thus, a better understanding is needed of the behavioral, economic, and geographic factors that influence obesity risk factors such as eating behaviors. We used a discrete choice experiment to evaluate the impact of different meal attributes on meal choice and to test whether the relative importance of these attributes varied by SES and race/ethnicity. Study participants (n = 228) were given a series of 10 choice tasks and asked to choose among 4 meals, each rated based on the following attributes: taste; healthfulness; preparation time; travel time to food outlet for meal/ingredients; and price. SES was measured using education and self-reported difficulty paying for basics. Race/ethnicity was categorized as Hispanic/Latina, non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic white, and non-Hispanic other. Data were analyzed using mixed logit regression models with interaction terms to determine whether meal attributes influenced meal choices differentially by SES and race/ethnicity. Healthfulness and taste were the most important attributes for all participants. Price was a more important attribute among those in the lowest SES group compared with those in the higher SES groups. Travel was the least important attribute for low SES participants, and it was not significantly related to meal choice in these groups. Discrete choice experiments as illustrated here may help pinpoint the most salient targets for interventions to improve eating behaviors and reduce obesity disparities. Specifically, our findings suggest interventions should incorporate strategies to target the pricing of healthy and unhealthy food options.

Feasibility of a Family Meal Intervention to Address Nutrition, Emotional Wellbeing, and Food Insecurity of Families With Adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of a family meal intervention to address indicators of parent and adolescent nutrition and well-being and household food security. METHODS: Nine adolescents and a parent/caregiver were recruited from a youth health clinic. Families were provided with meal plans, recipes, and ingredients for 5 meals weekly for 4 weeks. Participants completed baseline and follow-up surveys and open-ended interviews. RESULTS: Overall, fidelity to the intervention was high among families; the frequency of family meals increased by approximately 2 meals/wk. Both parent/caregivers and adolescents reported improvements to nutrition (4 of 9 increased vegetable consumption for both) and most reported improvements to mental well-being. Household food insecurity also reduced during the intervention (means of 8.2 and 0.2 at baseline and follow-up, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Providing families with meal plans, recipes, and ingredients is an acceptable way to increase weekly frequency of family meals. Future research may consider the family meal as a way to engage with families about broader concerns.

Ecological Momentary Assessment of the Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Family Meal Environment in Racially/Ethnically Diverse and Immigrant Households.

OBJECTIVE: To describe meal characteristics across breakfast, lunch, and dinner family meals in racially/ethnically diverse and immigrant/refugee households via ecological momentary assessment; identify real-time meal characteristics associated with family meal frequency; and identify qualitative themes regarding parents' perspectives about meal characteristics and meal types that influence family meal frequency. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: In-home visits. PARTICIPANTS: Children aged 5-7 years (n = 150) and their families from diverse and low-income households. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Mixed methods. ANALYSIS: Multiple linear regression and hybrid deductive and inductive content analysis. RESULTS: Quantitative results indicated several similar meal characteristics occurring across weekdays and weekend days and by meal type (eg, parent prepared the meal, food mostly homemade, meal eaten at table) and some significant negative associations (P < .05) between meal characteristics and family meal frequency (eg, fast food for family meals). Eight main qualitative themes with several subthemes supported and expanded the quantitative findings and added depth to interpretation of the findings. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Results identified specific meal characteristics both quantitatively and qualitatively that may inform the development of interventions to increase the frequency of family meals so that more families can benefit from the protective nature of family meals.

The reliability of the general functioning scale in Norwegian 13-15-year-old adolescents and association with family dinner frequency.

BACKGROUND: Family environment is crucial to the development of health behaviors into adolescence and adulthood. The aims of this study were (1) to explore the reliability of the General Functioning Scale (GFS) among Norwegian 13-15-year-olds, and (2) to assess whether family functioning reported by adolescents was associated with family dinner frequency. METHODS: In total 440 secondary-school students were invited to participate in this cross-sectional web-based questionnaire survey, with 54 participating in the test-retest study. Test-retest and internal consistency were assessed for the 12-item GFS-scale. Associations between family functioning and family dinner frequency were tested using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The GFS had high internal consistency (corrected item-total correlations ranging from 0.40 to 0.65, Cronbach's α = 0.85), and excellent test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.83). In the logistic regression model, a higher score on GFS (poorer family functioning) was associated with a reduced likelihood of having dinner together on a daily basis (i.e., 6-7 times per week, OR = 0.36, CI = 0.20-0-64) after adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, living situation and parental education level. CONCLUSIONS: The GFS had high reliability. As poorer family functioning was associated with less frequent family dinners, the family environment may be an important (contextual) target to influence adolescent health behaviors. It would be of interest to further explore the role of family functioning in relation to adolescents' dietary habits, besides shared family meals, and to reveal the mechanisms underlying such relationships.

My Child at mealtime parent self-assessment of food related behaviors: Validation with mealtime behaviors.

My Child at Mealtime (MCMT) is a visually enhanced, self-assessment tool designed to measure parent food related behaviors of low-income caregivers of preschool-aged children. The current study examined the factor structure of MCMT and the correspondence between MCMT parent- and child-centered food related behaviors with observed behaviors during a mealtime with their preschool aged child. Caregivers (N = 175) completed MCMT, and a subsample (n = 60) had a mealtime videotaped in their home. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor structure resulting in parent-centered and child-centered MCMT subscales. There was a significant association between parent-centered MCMT scores and observed parent-centered behaviors at mealtime. Behavioral correspondence of MCMT child-centered behaviors was generally weaker. Overall, the findings suggest that caregivers' MCMT responses provide a valid measure of parent food related behaviors.

Fazer refeições com os pais está associado à maior qualidade da alimentação de adolescentes brasileiros / Comer con los padres está asociado a una mayor calidad en la alimentación de los adolescentes brasileños / Eating meals with parents is associated with better quality of diet for Brazilian adolescents

Resumo: O objetivo foi investigar a frequência com que os adolescentes brasileiros realizam as refeições com os pais e verificar a associação deste hábito com a qualidade da dieta. Foram utilizados dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar - 2015 (PeNSE). A amostra foi composta por adolescentes matriculados no nono ano do ensino fundamental de escolas públicas e privadas, com idades entre 11 e 19 anos. A exposição de interesse foi realizar refeições com os pais (0-4 e ≥ 5 dias/semana) e os desfechos estudados foram consumo frequente (≥ 5 dias/semana) de alimentos marcadores de alimentação saudável e não saudável. Escores de alimentação saudável (variação 0-21) e não saudável (variação 0-35) foram elaborados com base no somatório dos dias que o adolescente relatou consumir cada um dos marcadores de alimentação. Foram usados modelos de regressão de Poisson e linear, ajustados por variáveis sociodemográficas. A realização frequente de refeições com os pais (≥ 5 dias/semana) foi observada em 74% (IC95%: 73,4-74,7) dos adolescentes. Aqueles que afirmaram ter esse hábito apresentaram maior probabilidade do consumo frequente de feijão (RP = 1,22; IC95%: 1,19-1,26), frutas (RP = 1,34; IC95%: 1,28-1,39) e hortaliças (RP = 1,39; IC95%: 1,34-1,44); e menor probabilidade de consumo frequente de guloseimas (RP = 0,91; IC95%: 0,88-0,94), ultraprocessados salgados (RP = 0,91; IC95%: 0,87-0,94) e salgados fritos (RP = 0,85; IC95%: 0,80-0,90). Realizar as refeições com os pais foi positivamente associado ao escores de alimentação saudável e inversamente associado ao escores de alimentação não saudável. O hábito de realizar refeições com os pais é frequente entre adolescentes brasileiros e está associado à melhor qualidade da alimentação.

Resumen: El objetivo fue investigar la frecuencia con la que los adolescentes brasileños comen con los padres y verificar la asociación de este hábito con la calidad de la dieta. Se utilizaron datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud del Escolar - 2015 (PeNSE). La muestra estaba compuesta por adolescentes matriculados en el noveno año de enseñanza fundamental de escuelas públicas y privadas, con edades entre 11 y 19 años. La exposición de interés fue realizar comidas con los padres (0-4 y ≥ 5 días/semana) y los resultados estudiados fueron consumo frecuente (≥ 5 días/semana) de alimentos marcadores de alimentación saludable y no saludable. Los marcadores de alimentación saludable (variación 0-21) y no saludable (variación 0-35) se elaboraron basándose en el sumatorio de los días en los que el adolescente informó consumir cada uno de los marcadores de alimentación. Se usaron modelos de regresión de Poisson y lineales, ajustados por variables sociodemográficas. La realización frecuente de comidas con los padres (≥ 5 días/semana) se observó en un 74% (IC95%: 73,4-74,7) de los adolescentes. Aquellos que afirmaron tener ese hábito presentaron una mayor probabilidad de consumo frecuente de frijoles (RP = 1,22; IC95%: 1,19-1,26), frutas (RP = 1,34; IC95%: 1,28-1,39) y hortalizas (RP = 1,39; IC95%: 1,34-1,44); y menor probabilidad de consumo frecuente de golosinas (RP = 0,91; IC95%: 0,88-0,94), aperitivos ultraprocesados (RP = 0,91; IC95%: 0,87-0,94) y aperitivos fritos (RP = 0,85; IC95%: 0,80-0,90). Realizar las comidas con los padres estuvo positivamente asociado al marcadores de alimentación saludable e inversamente asociado al marcadores de alimentación no saludable. El hábito de realizar comidas con los padres es frecuente entre adolescentes brasileños y está asociado a una mejor calidad de la alimentación.

Abstract: The objective was to investigate how often Brazilian adolescents eat meals with their parents and verify the association between this habit and quality of the diet. Data were from the Brazilian National Survey of School Health (PeNSE-2015). The sample consisted of adolescents enrolled in the ninth grade in public and private schools, ranging in age from 11 to 19 years. The target exposure was eating meals with parents (0-4 and ≥ 5 days/week) and the outcomes were frequent consumption (≥ 5 days/week) of healthy and unhealthy dietary markers. Healthy diet scores (range 0-21) and unhealthy diet scores (range 0-35) were based on total days that the adolescent reported consuming each of the dietary markers. Poisson and linear regression models were used, adjusted by sociodemographic variables. Frequent sharing of meals with parents (≥ 5 days/week) was seen in 74% (95%CI: 73.4-74.7) of the adolescents. Those reporting this habit showed higher likelihood of frequent consumption of beans (PR = 1.22; 95%CI: 1.19-1.26), fruits (PR = 1.34; 95%CI: 1.28-1.39), and vegetables (PR = 1.39; 95%CI: 1.34-1.44), and lower likelihood of frequent consumption of sweets (PR = 0.91; 95%CI: 0.88-0.94), ultra-processed salty foods (PR = 0.91; 95%CI: 0.87-0.94), and fried salty snacks (PR = 0.85; 95%CI: 0.80-0.90). Eating meals with parents was positively associated with healthy diet scores and inversely associated with unhealthy diet scores . Eating meals with parents is a common habit in Brazilian adolescents and is associated with better quality of diet.

"Feastworthy is Something That Gives Us Our Dignity Back:" Feasibility of A Delivered Prepared Meal Program for Families in Motel-Shelters.

Families experiencing homelessness struggle with food access and face a high burden of nutrition-related diseases. We assessed feasibility of Feastworthy, a prepared meal delivery program for families in motel-shelters with meals made from surplus food from local colleges. We used pre-and post-program surveys and semi-structured interviews, comparing participating families with families in a nearby shelter. During the three-month pilot, Feastworthy delivered 4,875 meals to 38 families; 33 families participated in the study (20 intervention and 13 control). Families reported that the motel-shelter worsened their diet and health, and reported increased food security and healthier diets with Feastworthy. In difference-in-differences analyses, vegetable intake trended upward by 0.6 servings/day (p=.08) among participants relative to comparison-site individuals. Changes in food security scores and out-of-pocket food expenses were no different. A delivered meal program was feasible and may provide health benefits for homeless families. Future larger-scale, longer-term studies will clarify its befits.

A contextual identification of home-living older adults' positive mealtime practices: A honeycomb model as a framework for joyful aging and the importance of social factors.

In this study, we outlined contextual identifications within positive mealtime practices among home-living older adults in Denmark. We aimed to understand and facilitate optimal dietary intake and to promote well-being for older adults who live at home. We used data from 22 participants, who wrote diary entries and took photos of their meal experiences over a 6-day period. We followed this with in-depth interviews, using the photos as mediators within a photo-elicitation framework. The results revealed that social factors play a major role in positive mealtime practices and that the types of commensal eating vary based on the contextual setting. Furthermore, we found that, in the new generation of older adults, some men have extremely good cooking skills and are interested in contextual food matters. Meeting older adults' needs for adequate nutrition requires in-depth knowledge, including a complex understanding of individual preferences and contextual everyday practices.

Use of Props During Mealtime for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Self-Regulation and Reinforcement.

Mealtime is an important family routine commonly affected for families with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Limited research is available regarding strategies families incorporate to support mealtime engagement. The purpose of this study was to explore the frequency and characterize the purpose of Props used during mealtimes with children with ASD. A total of 12 families with a child(ren), N = 14, aged 2 to 7 years, with ASD and mealtime challenges or eating difficulties participated in video-recorded mealtimes in their home. Independent coders analyzed mealtimes for the frequency and purpose of Props (items used to support child participation during mealtime). Props were used by 75% of families ( n = 9); common Props included toys, electronics, and books. Props were used primarily as a self-regulation tool for the child and occasionally as positive reinforcement for specific behaviors. Overall, Props were used to support child engagement in mealtime. Occupational therapists should consider using Props as individualized, accessible, and supportive mealtime interventions for families and children.

Association of parental investment of time and cost in food provisioning with adherence to dietary guidelines for the consumption of fruits, vegetables and non-core foods in pre-schoolers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether parent-reported time and cost for provision of food is associated with consumption of fruits, vegetables and non-core foods in pre-schoolers. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the Healthy Habits randomised controlled trial. Two subscales of the Children's Dietary Questionnaire (CDQ) were used to assess fruit and vegetable, and non-core food consumption. SETTING: Thirty pre-schools in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. SUBJECTS: Parents (n 396) with a child aged 3-5 years attending a participating pre-school were recruited. Parents needed to reside with that child for at least four days per week and have primary responsibility for providing meals and snacks to their child. RESULTS: Sixty-three per cent of children had a parent-reported subscale score indicating adherence to dietary guidelines for fruit and vegetable intake, while 64% of children had a subscale score indicating they were exceeding dietary guidelines for non-core foods. Regression models revealed significant positive associations between higher CDQ scores for non-core foods (indicating higher consumption levels) and minutes that parents spent preparing food (P=0·032 and 0·025) and amount spent on purchasing food (P=0·043 and 0·020). The magnitude of the effects was small (estimate=0·003 and 0·001). CONCLUSIONS: Time and cost spent by parents on provision of food was not significantly associated with child fruit and vegetable consumption. Further explorations into time spent on food preparation and cost of food procurement are warranted to help address the increased consumption of non-core foods by pre-school children.

The Family Meal Challenge: A Faith-Based Intervention to Empower Families.

African Americans have increased rates of overweight and obesity and are least likely to participate in family meals compared with other racial groups. A Family Meal Challenge (FMC) was developed with the objective of empowering individuals to eat healthy meals together as a family. The FMC was presented through four classes in three churches, two faith-based ministries, and two community service programs in health disparity zip codes. Surveys (N = 257) indicated a positive response. Engaging participants and teaching the benefits of eating healthy family meals in a faith-based environment are feasible and may increase the frequency of family meals. Information is provided to create and implement an FMC in any faith setting.