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Food neophobia in Latino preschoolers: correlation with intake and pilot intervention results (252.2)
Author(s) -
Haemer Matthew,
Goldberg Shauna,
Tong Suhong,
Johnson Susan
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.252.2
Subject(s) - neophobia , intervention (counseling) , psychology , low income , medicine , environmental health , developmental psychology , psychiatry , socioeconomics , sociology
Background : Parent perception of a child’s willingness to try new foods may impact the dietary patterns and has not been well described in low‐income Latino preschool children. Objectives : 1. To describe relationships between parent perceived neophobia, a child’s willingness to try foods, and intake of healthful foods; and, 2. To describe results of an intervention to decrease perceived neophobia among low‐income Latino parents and increase liking of healthful foods among preschool‐aged children. Methods : Mothers and their children 3‐7 years participated. Questionnaires assessed maternal‐reported neophobia at baseline. Child's familiarity, willingness‐to‐try, and liking of 10 healthful foods were assessed at baseline. Children completed 10 childcare sessions with activities focused on increasing familiarity with healthful foods. A 1oz portion of each food was offered at each session and consumption was measured. Parents received a report on session content and snacks consumed. Parent and child surveys were repeated following the intervention. Spearman correlation coefficients tested associations and paired t‐tests compared changes in mean responses. Results : 29 dyads completed baseline and follow‐up assessments. Most foods were unfamiliar to 80% or more of children. Parent‐report neophobia was not significantly correlated with the number of foods a child reported willingness to try r=0.25 (p=0.23), consumed 0.16 (p=0.11), or liked ‐0.05 (p=0.83). On 20 point scales, parent reported neophobia decreased ‐2.2 (‐3.7, ‐0.7) p=0.0073 and child liking of foods increased a 3.4 (0.8, 5.9) p=0.0129 after the intervention. Conclusions : Parents did not predict a child’s stated willingness to try healthful foods, consumption, or liking. Parent‐reported neophobia and child’s liking were modifiable. This pilot should be expanded to a larger population using a controlled design. Grant Funding Source : Supported by the Colorado Health Foundation