By Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D.Jun 2 2023Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLM In a study published in BMC Public Health, scientists have explored how family socioeconomic status, home food availability, and parental role-modeling of healthy food consumption may influence children's diet quality.
Studies conducted in high-income countries have shown that the high socioeconomic status of families is associated with the healthy dietary habits of children. In the current study, scientists have explored whether there is any association between family socioeconomic status and children's fruit and vegetable consumption frequency. They have also assessed whether parental role-modeling of healthy and unhealthy food consumption and home food availability may influence this possible association.
Important observations Children's average frequency of consumption of fruits and vegetables was estimated to be 21 times per week. As reported by the parents, the average frequency of consumption of healthy and unhealthy foods by them in front of their children were nine times/week and five times/week, respectively.
Children's consumption of fruits and vegetables also showed a direct positive association with higher availability of fruits and vegetables, lower availability of sugary foods and drinks, and higher parental role-modeling of fruit and vegetable consumption. In households of parents with middle educational background, an association was observed between higher availability of sugary foods and drinks and less frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables by children.