Year: 2011
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to measure if the level of nutrition knowledge of preschool parents reflects the frequency of fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, and whole grain food items while also observing the amount of calories, fat, saturated fat and fiber provided in preschooler's packed lunches.Participants included 27 parents of preschool children, age two to five years old, who completed a nutrition knowledge questionnaire with demographic questions and a three day food log reporting the items packed in their lunches.A percent score for the nutrition questionnaire, demographics, the frequency of the food groups, and nutritional information were recorded for each participant.Analyses were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.The results concluded that nutrition knowledge only had a significant effect on the amount of grains and meat/beans present in packed lunches.Parents with high nutrition knowledge consumed meals outside the home significantly more than parents with low nutrition knowledge.Overall, the lunches were found to not meet USDA's MyPyramid or CACFP standards for preschoolers.The demographics concluded that mothers were the main lunch packer and grocery shopper and nutrition knowledge was mainly obtained from other parents and magazines.The results of this study provide future researchers and developers of nutrition intervention programs information on the effectiveness of nutrition knowledge in parents.This can help initiate healthy eating during the formative years and increase the chances of future healthy lifestyle choices.
Author: Erica L. Buchanan
Institution: Kent State University
Language: English
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: U.S. Department of Agriculture
OpenAlex ID: W2609589854