When it comes to healthy habits, home is where it starts, researchers show

For young children to make healthy choices they need to be surrounded by a consistent variety of plentiful foods, researchers from the University of Illinois have shown in a new study.

 

Early childhood is an important time for learning about nutrition and establishing healthy eating behaviours, and given that young children rely on parents to provide food options, the availability and variety of food in the home affects their dietary choices. 

 

The study looked at changes in home food availability and nutritional intake for children two to four years of age, finding that as children get older, the presence of more energy-dense and high-fat foods tends to grow.

 

“Children may request these foods more often, and outside influences, such as the opinions of peers, are starting to become more apparent,” lead author Associate Professor Jennifer Barton said. 

 

Associate Professor Barton and her team used the Home Food Inventory (HFI) to measure food availability at 24, 36, and 48 months of age. The HFI is a comprehensive checklist of food categories administered by a research assistant visiting the homes of participating families. The researchers correlated the HFI data with surveys of the children’s food consumption completed by their mothers.

 

“We found significant changes in several food categories over time. Food items such as non-whole grains, processed meats, savory snacks, candy, and microwavable or quick-cook foods were more commonly available in the home at 48 months compared to 24 and 36 months,” she said.

 

The HFI includes an obesogenic score, which indicates the obesity risk of different foods. However, the scores are based on dietary recommendations for older children and include regular-fat dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese. Toddlers have different energy and nutrient needs, and dairy products are considered as part of a healthy diet for young children, necessary for growth and development. 

 

The researchers tested three obesogenic scores, two of which were developmentally sensitive scores that excluded milk, yogurt, and cheese. Even with the modified categories, they found that obesogenic scores increased significantly from 24 to 48 months.

 

“It makes sense that as children get older, the presence of more energy-dense and high-fat foods tends to grow. Children may request these foods more often, and outside influences, such as the opinions of peers, are starting to become more apparent. I do want to point out that we found some positive changes. Vegetables also become more available in the home at 48 months,” Associate Professor Barton said.

 

“The point is not to label certain foods as being good or bad. We likely all have food items in our home that are not ‘recommended.’ It’s really about trying to make sure that we get enough nutritious, recommended foods and eat the non-recommended items in moderation.”

 

A second research goal was to test the validity of the HFI measure for young children, as the method has been developed for adolescents. Associate Professor Barton and her colleagues conducted comprehensive tests of associations between food availability and nutrient intake, overall finding the expected results.

 

For example, the availability of processed meats such as lunch meat and hot dogs was correlated with higher saturated fat intake. Sweetened beverages, candy, desserts, and savory snacks were correlated with higher intake of those foods. A higher presence of fruit and vegetables in the home was also a consistent indicator of nutrients. These findings indicate that HFI is a reliable measure of home food availability and has demonstrated associations with food and nutrient intake for children ages 24, 36, and 48 months, the researchers concluded.

 

Ultimately, while it is important for allied health professionals and those from family support services such as early childhood education and care (ECEC) to support parents in making healthy decisions for their families, “food choice is much more than individual behavior,” Associate Professor Barton stated.  

 

“There are complex factors affecting parents’ decisions. Children may ask for certain foods, which may stem from the influence of media and advertising. We should also consider who else lives in the home such as siblings, and the parents may experience work demands and financial stressors that can spill over into their family life.”

 

“Many people struggle with distance to food stores and access to fresh foods as well as food insecurity. I believe we need a food systems approach to ensure people have access to nutritious food and that parents feel supported in making decisions to promote the health and well-being of themselves and their children,” she concluded. 

 

Access the findings in full here.