Nutrients, Vol. 17, Pages 941: Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Mothers and Their Children Aged 4–10 and Its Relationship with Maternal Feeding Practices
Nutrients doi: 10.3390/nu17060941
Authors:
Jeżewska-Zychowicz
Małachowska
Sajdakowska
The low intake of fruit and vegetables among the Polish population prompts a search for factors that can be addressed in dietary interventions, such as the family food environment. Background/Objectives: The objective of this study is to explore the link between maternal feeding practices applied to children aged 4–10 years and fruit and vegetable intake among children and their mothers. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a Computer-Assisted Web Interview technique took place in 2020–2021 among 260 Polish women who were mothers of children aged 4–10. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, and multiple linear and logistic regression. Results: The mother’s intake of fruit was strongly correlated with the children’s intake of fruit (β = 0.309; p < 0.001), and a similar correlation was found for vegetable intake (β = 0.428; p < 0.001). Apart from the mother’s fruit and vegetable intake, the Food as a Reward practice correlated negatively (β = −0.164; p = 0.015), while Monitoring (β = 0.158; p = 0.017) and Modeling (β = 0.170; p = 0.028) correlated positively with vegetable intake in children. The Monitoring practice correlated positively (β = 0.221; p < 0.001) with children’s fruit intake. After adjusting for the mother’s age, child’s gender, and mother’s recommended intake of fruit and vegetables, the Monitoring practice (OR = 1.971; p = 0.025) positively correlated with meeting the daily recommendations of fruit and vegetables in children. However, the Food as a Reward (OR = 0.484; p = 0.018) and Emotion Regulation (OR = 0.345; p = 0.008) practices negatively correlated with meeting the daily recommendations of fruit and vegetables in children aged 4–6, while the Monitoring practice (OR = 4.141; p = 0.017) correlated positively with meeting the daily recommendations of fruit and vegetables in children aged 7–10. Conclusions: The findings have shown that the mother’s fruit intake strongly correlates with the child’s fruit intake. Moreover, some maternal feeding practices, i.e., the Food as a Reward and Emotion Regulation practices, were negatively associated with meeting fruit and vegetable recommendations in younger children, while the Monitoring practice was positively related to meeting them in older children.
The low intake of fruit and vegetables among the Polish population prompts a search for factors that can be addressed in dietary interventions, such as the family food environment. Background/Objectives: The objective of this study is to explore the link between maternal feeding practices applied to children aged 4–10 years and fruit and vegetable intake among children and their mothers. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a Computer-Assisted Web Interview technique took place in 2020–2021 among 260 Polish women who were mothers of children aged 4–10. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, and multiple linear and logistic regression. Results: The mother’s intake of fruit was strongly correlated with the children’s intake of fruit (β = 0.309; p < 0.001), and a similar correlation was found for vegetable intake (β = 0.428; p < 0.001). Apart from the mother’s fruit and vegetable intake, the Food as a Reward practice correlated negatively (β = −0.164; p = 0.015), while Monitoring (β = 0.158; p = 0.017) and Modeling (β = 0.170; p = 0.028) correlated positively with vegetable intake in children. The Monitoring practice correlated positively (β = 0.221; p < 0.001) with children’s fruit intake. After adjusting for the mother’s age, child’s gender, and mother’s recommended intake of fruit and vegetables, the Monitoring practice (OR = 1.971; p = 0.025) positively correlated with meeting the daily recommendations of fruit and vegetables in children. However, the Food as a Reward (OR = 0.484; p = 0.018) and Emotion Regulation (OR = 0.345; p = 0.008) practices negatively correlated with meeting the daily recommendations of fruit and vegetables in children aged 4–6, while the Monitoring practice (OR = 4.141; p = 0.017) correlated positively with meeting the daily recommendations of fruit and vegetables in children aged 7–10. Conclusions: The findings have shown that the mother’s fruit intake strongly correlates with the child’s fruit intake. Moreover, some maternal feeding practices, i.e., the Food as a Reward and Emotion Regulation practices, were negatively associated with meeting fruit and vegetable recommendations in younger children, while the Monitoring practice was positively related to meeting them in older children. Read More