Developing a nutrition intervention in children's centres: exploring views of parents in rural/urban settings in the UK
Year: 2012
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The present study explored parents’ requirements for healthy eating support prior to the development of a tailored intervention. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of parents attending children’s centres. SETTING: Children’s centres in Cornwall (rural south-west England) and Islington (urban London borough). SUBJECTS: A total of 261 parents (94.2% female) of pre-school children (aged 2–5 years) completed a questionnaire on factors influencing food choice, and preferences for and views on healthy eating support. RESULTS: Parents reported that health, taste, freshness and quality were the most important factors influencing their food choices for their pre-school children. The importance of individual factors varied according to level of educational attainment. Over a third (38 %) of parents said they wanted more advice on healthy eating for children. Less educated parents showed the greatest interest in learning more about several aspects: what a ‘healthy diet’ means, how to prepare and cook healthy food, how to understand food labels, budgeting for food, examples of healthy food and snacks for children, appropriate portion sizes for children and ways to encourage children to eat well. CONCLUSIONS: There was demand for healthy eating support among parents of pre-school children, especially those who are less educated, in one rural and one urban area of England
Source: Public Health Nutrition
Authors: Heather R Ohly, Arabella Hayter, Clare Pettinger, Hynek Pikhart, Richard G Watt, Gail A Rees
Institutions: University of Plymouth, University College London
Language: English
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2056245046