Today’s unprecedented conditions have created a large new complex eating habit. This can be explained in light of non-third world countries’ living conditions where palatable, inexpensive, ready to eat foods are really available. Growing up in current conditions of dietary abundance can promote patterns of food intake which contribute to accelerated weight gain and obesity. In addition, relatively recent changes in our environment and concurrent reductions in opportunities for physical activity (as important as we demonstrate in several articles), also contribute to positive energy balance and obesity.
Eating patterns in our children and adolescents are influenced by both internal and external factors. On the one hand, between the internal factors we can find their preferences, body weight perception… (especially among girls). On the other hand, the external factors we can point at are: food availability and parental influences, which is the main topic for today’s article.
Today´s children spend less time eating with their families at the table and have routine exposure to large portions of palatable, energy dense food than in previous generations.
Parents select family food, serve as models of eating that children learn to emulate, and use feeding practices to encourage the development of culturally appropriate eating patterns and behaviors in children.
Most of the databases show poor fruit and vegetable consumption over children and adolescents. Furthermore, in the last decades raw vegetable, non potato vegetable and milk consumption intake are declining. (1–3)
Moreover, as children enter adolescence, the frequency of eating dinner with their families decreases. This is a key point, because it has been proven that children and adolescents that take a family meal 2 or more times a week, at least with one parent, have fewer odds of poor consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy products and breakfast skip (we have shown you breakfast’s importance in several articles). (4)
First five years of life are vital because it is the time when the foundation of eating behaviors are set. Children learn what, when and how much to eat based on the transmission of cultural and familiar beliefs, attitudes and practices surrounding food and eating. Laboratory studies have confirmed that young children readily form preferences for flavors associated with energy rich food. That innate preferences for energy dense food may act as a catalyst to promote energy intake among children in abundant dietary environments. In order to do that, we should talk about food acceptance. It is important for parents and caregivers to be aware of food acceptance in normal courses. Children reject, usually, 10 – 16 times new flavors and food before accepting it. Us, as caregivers, know this and we take care about your children’s vegetables and fruit daily intake. (1)
Parents, at home, and caregivers need encouragement to repeatedly offer nutrient dense age appropriate foods (fruits, dark green and yellow vegetables, and yogurt) as opposed to convenient energy dense food and snacks (chocolate bars, cookies…)
To sum up, you, as family, and we, as caregivers, have a huge responsibility in the building of solid foundation eating patterns and habits among our children and adolescents. We are aware of it and we design healthy and structured meals for your children. Nevertheless, we give you some advice to you in order to complement school meals:
- A regular family dinner, lunch or breakfast may improve the quality of diet for both children and adolescents. In fact, they reduced their fast food and sweets eating. Studies say that benefits emerge when, at least, children have 2 meals a week, with, at least, one of the parents.
- It is important that at home they can choose healthy snacks like fruit and whole grain bread, instead of sugar and salt added snacks. So, when you go shopping, always try to buy healthy snacks for them.
- If you want your children / adolescents to have breakfast, you should have breakfast too! Remember they learn a lot of your habits and behavior.
- Eat more vegetables on your own, so your children will have repeated and early experiences with those foods. They learn to eat fruit and vegetables by seeing us eating it!
Bibliography
3. Ma X, Chen Q, Pu Y, Guo M, Jiang Z, Huang W, et al. Skipping breakfast is associated with overweight and obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2020 Jan 1;14(1):1–8.4. Videon TM, Manning CK. Influences on adolescent eating patterns: the importance of family meals. J Adolesc Health. 2003 May 1;32(5):365–73.