A1 Journal article (refereed)
Children’s Fruit and Vegetable Preferences Are Associated with Their Mothers’ and Fathers’ Preferences (2021)
Kähkönen, K., Sandell, M., Rönkä, A., Hujo, M., & Nuutinen, O. (2021). Children’s Fruit and Vegetable Preferences Are Associated with Their Mothers’ and Fathers’ Preferences. Foods, 10(2), Article 261. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10020261
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Kähkönen, Kaisa; Sandell, Mari; Rönkä, Anna; Hujo, Mika; Nuutinen, Outi
Journal or series: Foods
eISSN: 2304-8158
Publication year: 2021
Publication date: 27/01/2021
Volume: 10
Issue number: 2
Article number: 261
Publisher: MDPI AG
Publication country: Switzerland
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10020261
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Open Access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/74086
Abstract
Children’s preference for fruit and vegetables must emerge during childhood. At children’s homes, mothers and fathers influence children’s developing food preferences with their own preferences and actions. The purpose of the study was to reveal the association parents have with their children’s fruit and vegetable preferences. The study was conducted in a sample of Finnish mothers and fathers of 3–5-year-old children. The participants were recruited, and questionnaires distributed through early childhood education and care centers in 2014 and 2015. The results showed considerable variance in the children’s preferences, and were more similar with their father’s, than their mother’s preference. There was an association between mother’s and children’s preference for “strong-tasting vegetables and berries“ (p = 0.005), “sweet-tasting fruit“ (p < 0.001) and “common vegetables“ (p = 0.037). Fathers preferences associated with children’s preferences for “strong-tasting vegetables and berries“ (p = 0.003). Food neophobia decreased children’s “strong-tasting vegetables and berries“ (p < 0.001) and “sweet-tasting fruit“ (p < 0.001) preferences. The father’s more relaxed attitude towards eating decreased children’s preferences for “strong-tasting vegetables and berries“ (p = 0.031) and “sweet-tasting fruit“ (p = 0.003). These findings indicate a need for more targeted strategies for increasing children’s preferences for fruit and vegetables and highlight the importance of taking both parents equally into account.
Keywords: children (age groups); nutritional behaviour; food habits; domestic environment; children (family members); parents; preferences; fruits; vegetables
Free keywords: children; parental; fruit and vegetables; preference; food neophobia; eating competence
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2021
JUFO rating: 1