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Parents play an important role in developing the eating behaviors of their children by adopting specific parenting practices. As the prevalence of obesity is high amongst African American adolescents, investigations into associations of specific parenting practices and adolescents’ eating behaviors are essential. In this exploratory study, 14 African American parent–adolescent dyads were interviewed to characterize the influence of eight different parenting practices on the consumption of three main food categories (dairy, fruits and vegetables, and unhealthy snacks). The results revealed that authoritarian parenting practices were correlated with a higher BMI percentile in adolescents, whereas modeling and monitoring are correlated with a higher parent BMI. In addition, reasoning, monitoring, modeling, and authoritative parenting practices were associated with less unhealthy snack consumption among adolescents. Reasoning and monitoring were the only parenting practices associated with higher fruit and vegetable consumption. Finally, a significant correlation was found between eating fruits and vegetables and unhealthy snacks and the location of eating. In conclusion, different parenting practices and environmental factors may impact BMI and food consumption of African American dyads. The results of this study can be used to guide improvement in, and/or development of, nutritional education interventions considering the cultural differences of racial minorities.

Whole grain foods have been associated with health benefits, yet are underconsumed by youth compared to recommendations. This study evaluated impacts of a school-based curriculum among children in grades 3-5 to address barriers to intake (2018-2019) (n = 1,748). Surveys before and after the program indicated youth were more willing to try and better able to identify whole grain foods. Open-ended responses confirmed findings regarding increased ability to identify whole grain foods, increased preferences and perceptions of availability. Together, these impacts could increase the likelihood that youth can meet whole grain intake recommendations to improve diet quality and health.

Background Weight stigma is prevalent among young people and harmful to health. The current study used a health equity lens to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between experiencing weight teasing (a form of weight stigma) with a range of weight-related health behaviors and weight status in an ethnically/racially and socioeconomically diverse sample of young people. We also assessed whether ethnicity/race and adolescent socioeconomic status (SES) operated as effect modifiers in these relationships. Methods Adolescents (n = 1568) were enrolled in EAT 2010–2018 (Eating and Activity over Time) and followed into young adulthood. Weight teasing; screen time; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA); sleep duration; breakfast frequency; fruit, vegetable, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB), and fast-food intake; and body mass index (BMI) were assessed at baseline (mean age = 14.4 years) and eight-year follow-up (mean age = 22.2 years). Multivariate linear regression estimated marginal means and 95% confidence intervals. All analyses adjusted for BMI and sociodemographic characteristics. Results Weight teasing was cross-sectionally associated with longer screen time, shorter sleep duration, and higher BMI during adolescence; and cross-sectionally associated with shorter sleep duration, lower breakfast frequency, higher fast-food intake, higher SSB intake, and higher BMI during young adulthood. In the longitudinal analyses, weight teasing was not associated with health behaviors but did predict higher BMI (teased: 28.2 kg/m2, not teased: 26.4 kg/m2, p Conclusions Findings add to growing evidence that weight-based mistreatment poses a threat to weight-related health and that young people across ethnic/racial and SES subgroups are vulnerable to the negative effects of weight teasing. Limitations include attrition at follow-up and the self-reported nature of many measures. Results suggest a need for increased attention to existing recommendations to reduce weight stigma in young people from diverse ethnic/racial and socioeconomic backgrounds including training for healthcare providers to better equip them to address the harms of weight teasing and foster more compassionate care to promote health-supporting behaviors in young people.

Frequency of consuming foods prepared away from home has been associated with lower diet quality among adults and adolescents in several earlier studies. Nutrient and food group intake and Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 scores were compared among a U.S. nationally representative sample of adolescents (12–19 years, n = 3975) by frequency of consuming food prepared away from home ≤2 times/week (n = 2311) versus &gt, 2 times/week (n = 1664) using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2011–2018. Regression analyses were used to compare intakes among adolescents by frequency of eating meals prepared away from home adjusting for covariates. Older (16–19 years) vs. younger (12–15 years) adolescents and those from homes with higher vs. lower family income to poverty ratios had greater frequency of eating meals prepared away from home. Intakes of nutrients of concern for adolescents including choline, vitamin D, potassium, magnesium, fiber, phosphorus, folate, iron, and total HEI-2015 scores and component scores for total vegetables, and greens and beans were lower among adolescents who consumed meals prepared away from home more vs. less often. However, no differences were noted among food group intakes considered good sources of nutrients of concern such as total fruit, total vegetables, whole grains, and total dairy, except for beans and peas by frequency of eating foods prepared away from home. Greater frequency of eating foods prepared away from home was associated with lower diet quality among adolescents in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adolescents.

Most studies of food-related parenting practices, parental meal involvement, and adolescent dietary intake have focused on maternal influences, studies of paternal influences, particularly among marginalized groups, are lacking. This study examined lower-income, Latino fathers’ food parenting practices and involvement in planning meals, buying/preparing foods, and family meal frequency, separately and in combination, to identify relationships with adolescent food intake. Baseline data were used from Latino adolescents (10–14 years, n = 191, 49% boys) participating with their fathers in a community-based overweight/obesity prevention intervention. Fathers reported sociodemographic characteristics. Adolescents reported frequency of fathers’ food parenting practices, fathers’ food/meal involvement, and family meals and participated in 24 h dietary recalls. The analysis included regression models using GLM (generalized linear mixed model) and PLM (post GLM processing) procedures. Most fathers were married, employed full-time, and had annual incomes below USD 50,000. Favorable fathers’ food parenting practices were associated with adolescent intake of more fruit and vegetables and fewer sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets/salty snacks, and less fast food (p &lt, 0.05 or p &lt, 0.01). No independent effects of family meal frequency or fathers’ food/meal involvement were observed on adolescent dietary outcomes. Additional analyses showed favorable food parenting practices in combination with frequent family meals were associated with adolescents having a higher intake of fruit (p = 0.011). Latino fathers can have an important positive influence on adolescent dietary intake.

Objective:To investigate the influence of general parenting dimensions on adolescents’ energy balance-related behaviours (EBRB) and its interactions with behaviour-specific parenting practices based on Darling and Steinberg’s contextual model of parenting style.Design:Multiple linear regression analyses and the Hayes PROCESS procedure to analyse self-reported cross-sectional survey data.Setting:In-person survey.Participants:Latino early adolescents and their fathers (n 225 dyads) recruited using convenience sampling from metropolitan areas of north-central USA.Results:Both paternal parenting dimensions of warmth and autonomy granting were positively associated with adolescents’ fruit intake, vegetable intake and physical activity. Coercive control was positively associated with adolescents’ sugary drink intake and sweets/salty snack intake. These associations were predominantly mediated by the parenting practices of setting expectations/allowances, role modelling, and managing availability and accessibility for corresponding EBRB. After adjusting for parenting practices, paternal warmth was inversely associated with adolescents’ screen time, paternal autonomy was positively associated with sugary drink intake, and both paternal warmth and autonomy granting were positively associated with adolescents’ fast food intake. In addition, positive associations between fathers’ parenting practices and adolescents’ sugary drink intake were significantly stronger among those who perceived high v. low levels of paternal warmth and autonomy granting.Conclusions:Paternal warmth and autonomy granting showed mixed effects on adolescents’ EBRB, and coercive control showed undesirable relationships with adolescents’ dietary intake via interactions with behaviour-specific parenting practices. Lifestyle intervention programmes for Latino adolescents need to consider incorporating paternal parenting education components.

OBJECTIVES: Serum β-carotene (BC) concentrations are not reflective of dietary BC status as serum concentrations can vary as a result of intake, lifestyle factors, adiposity, and physiological factors related to digestion and absorption. Longitudinal studies have shown a positive relationship between serum carotenoids and dietary BC intake, but the role of body mass index (BMI), as a surrogate for adiposity, in predicting serum BC concentrations is not well understood. The primary objective was to determine the role of BMI in the association between reported dietary BC intakes and serum BC concentrations. METHODS: Relationships between serum BC and reported dietary intake of BC were estimated using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES)/What We Eat in America (WWEIA) survey 2003–2006 for 2580 male and non-pregnant female participants aged 20–85 years in the United States (US). The distributions of reported dietary and serum BC concentrations were skewed, therefore natural log (ln) was used to transform the data. Multivariable linear regression estimated serum BC concentrations based on reported dietary intake of BC adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity. Additional models were run by BMI category (normal, overweight, obesity class I, obesity class II, and obesity class III). RESULTS: Mean serum BC concentrations were 14.59 ± 0.1 μg/dL, BMI was 27.80 ± 0.1 kg/m(2), and reported dietary intakes of BC were 828.82 ± 0.06 μg. A moderate association was present between serum BC and reported dietary BC intake, r = 0.30, P

Latino adolescents face challenges to performing energy balance–related behaviors (EBRBs) to prevent childhood obesity, including healthy dietary intake, adequate physical activity, and limited screen time. Fathers are underrepresented in family-based obesity interventions but could be influential in shaping the EBRBs of Latino children. Three types of parenting practices (setting expectations/limits, role modeling, managing availability and accessibility) have shown relatively consistent positive relationships with children’s EBRBs in studies that have mostly involved mothers. The purpose of this study was to develop measures to assess Latino fathers’ parenting practices based on existing measurement instruments, focus groups and cognitive testing. Criterion validity of the measures (40 items) was examined with Latino fathers and their early adolescents (10-14 years old, n = 96 dyads) who were predominantly from low-income, two-parent households. Criterion validity was indicated by significantly higher intakes of fruit and vegetables; lower intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets/salty snacks and fast foods; more weekly physical activity hours; and fewer daily screen time hours among adolescents who reported high versus low levels/frequencies of supportive parenting practices. In addition, nearly all scales of adolescent-reported paternal behavioral modeling and availability/accessibility practices were significantly correlated with adolescents’ corresponding EBRBs (r = 0.22 to 0.54). However, poor validity and agreement with early adolescents’ reports were found for most father-reported parenting practices. Overall, this study indicated that the measures were acceptable for assessing adolescents’ report of Latino fathers’ parenting practices around EBRBs. The findings also indicate the importance of including early adolescents’ reports in measuring paternal parenting practices.

Obesity is more prevalent among racial minority children in the United States, as compared to White children. Parenting practices can impact the development of children’s eating behaviors and habits. In this study, we investigated the relationships among racial/ethnic backgrounds, parenting practices and styles, and eating behaviors in adolescents. Fifty-one parent–adolescent dyads were interviewed to characterize parenting practices and styles, as well as the consumption of dairy, fruits and vegetables, and unhealthy snacks. Height and weight were measured to calculate parent BMI and adolescent BMI-for-age percentiles. Three parenting practice categories—modeling, authoritative, and authoritarian—were found to be related to race/ethnicity. A higher score in authoritarian parenting practices was related to higher BMI percentiles among African American adolescents, whereas a higher score in monitoring practices was related to lower BMI percentiles among non-Hispanic White adolescents. Modeling, reasoning, and monitoring led to higher consumption of fruits and vegetables among adolescents; however, the consumption of unhealthy snacks was higher with rule-setting and lower with reasoning and authoritative practices. Finally, an analysis of the relationships between environmental factors and snack intake showed that adolescents consumed significantly more unhealthy snacks when performing other activities while eating. In conclusion, the findings from this study suggest that families’ racial heritages are related to their parenting practices, BMI percentiles, and their adolescents’ food consumption and eating behaviors. The results of this study can be used to develop and improve adolescent nutrition education and interventions with consideration of their racial/ethnic backgrounds.

To examine changes in cooking and dietary behaviors and health outcomes following participation in A Taste of African Heritage, a culinary heritage cooking course.One group, pre-post program design, surveys, and physical assessments.Community centers, churches, health care settings, homes, and housing complexes.Participants (n = 586, 84% women) were recruited by partner organizations from 2013-2018 across 21 states and the District of Columbia.A 6-week cooking curriculum that teaches history, nutrition, and cooking techniques to reconnect participants with the vibrant, healthy traditions of the African Diaspora.Weekly frequency of cooking, food group intake, and exercise assessed by surveys, measured weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure.Linear and logistic mixed-effects models with random intercepts for participant and teacher, sex and site type as covariates comparing pre-post physical measurements and binary behavioral outcomes, P0.0033 for statistical significance after Bonferroni correction.Intake frequencies of fruit, vegetable, and greens and exercise frequency were improved from preprogram to postprogram (all P0.0021). Weight, waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure were also improved from preprogram to postprogram (all P0.0001).Participation in A Taste of African Heritage was associated with positive behavior changes and health outcomes. Integrating cultural heritage and behaviors are positive components to connect participants to healthy old ways or traditions.

Background Food security status has been assessed as a representative score for households; however, different members in the same household may perceive and report food insecurity differently. A high prevalence of food insecurity has been reported among Latino households, therefore understanding differences in reporting food insecurity by Latino father-mother dyads may improve accuracy of assessment and plans to address food insecurity. This study aimed to 1) determine demographic characteristics and/or food-related factors associated with perceptions of food security status among Latino father-mother dyads, and 2) identify factors associated with discordance in perceptions of food insecurity between dyads. Methods Baseline data were used from a community-based, youth obesity prevention program among Latino families (n = 106 father-mother dyads). Food security was assessed with a 2-item food insecurity screen. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between reporting food security status and predictor variables for fathers, mothers, and dyad-discordant responses. Results Food insecurity was reported by 39% of fathers and 55% of mothers. Adjusted odds of reporting food insecurity were significantly higher for fathers perceiving their neighborhood was unsafe vs. safe (OR: 3.7, p OR: 3.2, p OR: 4.1, p OR: 5.5, p OR: 3.4, p OR: 3.1, p Conclusions Differential factors were associated with reporting food security among Latino father-mother dyads. Nutrition education for fathers that improves awareness of home food supplies and a better understanding of how food accessibility influences maternal perceptions may improve dyad discordance in reporting household food security.

Background: Food assistance and nutrition education are strategies used to address the high prevalence of food insecurity among U.S. Latino households. Assessment of food security status is necessary to implement these strategies. However, similarities and differences in perceptions of food security status have not been reported among Latino fathers and mothers who may have different home food acquisition and preparation responsibilities. This study aimed to 1) determine demographic characteristics and/or food-related factors associated with perceptions of food security status among Latino fathers and mothers, and 2) identify those factors correlated with concordance in perceptions of food insecurity between fathers and mothers.Methods: Baseline data were used from a Latino-family, community-based program to improve paternal parenting practices and youth energy balance-related behaviors (Padres Preparados, Jóvenes Saludables), including 106 father and mother couples. Food security was assessed with two questions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture 18-item Household Food Security Survey. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between food security and predictor variables in fathers or mothers and between couple discordant responses in food security status and predictor variables.Results: The prevalence of household food insecurity was reported by 39% of fathers and 55% of mothers. Food security status was associated with neighborhood safety (odds ratio (OR): 3.7, p < 0.05) and household income (OR: 3.2, p < 0.05) in fathers, and with neighborhood safety (OR: 4.1, p < 0.01) and home fruit and vegetable availability (OR: 5.5, p < 0.01) in mothers. Couple discordance in reporting food security status occurred in 24% of the couples and was related to higher discordance among couples where fathers reported a lower frequency of participation in nutrition education than mothers (OR: 3.4, p < 0.05) and different perceptions of home fruit and vegetable accessibility (OR: 3.1, p < 0.05).Conclusions: Among Latino fathers and/or mothers, factors associated with perceptions of food insecurity differed, possibly related to fathers versus mothers having access to information about different household aspects related to food insecurity. Nutrition education for fathers may support an improvement in couple discordance in assessment of food security.

OBJECTIVES: There is a positive relationship between visceral adiposity and cardiometabolic diseases (CMD). Recent data report lower serum carotenoids in individuals with obesity. Longitudinal studies show an inverse relationship between CMD and serum carotenoids β-carotene (BC), α-carotene (AC), β-cryptoxanthin (BCX); however, the relationship between serum carotenoids and visceral adiposity in population samples has not been assessed. Our primary objective was to determine the association between adiposity and serum carotenoid concentrations in United States (U.S.) adults. METHODS: Data were obtained from 3904 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003–2006) using multistage probability sampling. The relationship between android fat percentage (AF%), measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and serum carotenoid concentrations for male and non-pregnant female participants aged 20–85 years in the U.S. was assessed. Associations were estimated using Pearson correlation coefficients and partial correlations adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and reported carotenoid intake. Multivariable linear regression modeled serum carotenoid concentrations (log transformed) on body fat percentage adjusted for reported dietary carotenoid and total calorie intake, age, sex, and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Mean ± SE for BC, AC, BCX, and AF% were 12.30 ± 0.05, 2.54 ± 0.07, 6.80 ± 0.04 μg/dL, and 36.87 ± 0.22%, respectively. AF% concentrations were inversely associated with BC (r = −0.08, P

Evening meal types and family meal characteristics among adolescents may vary by demographic characteristics and weight status and can negatively impact dietary intake. We used cross-sectional Family, Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating Study data from parent and adolescent dyads (12&ndash, 17 years) to examine associations of adolescent evening meal types and family meal characteristics with adolescent and family demographic characteristics, weight status, and dietary intake. Multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations of evening meal types and family meal characteristics with daily intake frequency of foods of interest, adolescent demographic characteristics, SES indicators, and weight status. All evening meal types that were not cooked from scratch showed associations with higher daily intake frequencies of less healthy food groups (fast food, convenience foods, sugar-sweetened beverages). Fast food eaten at home and heat-and-serve/box evening meals were associated with lower daily intake frequency of fruits and vegetables. Weight status, race/ethnicity, and age accounted for differences in associations with agreement regarding family meal characteristics. Agreement with often watching TV while eating, often eating alone and the importance of eating together were associated with daily intake frequency of some food groups. Evening meal types focused on convenience and negative family meal characteristics may adversely influence dietary intake among adolescents.

The purpose of this formative, cross-sectional study was to describe independent eating occasions (iEOs) among a convenience sample of low-income early adolescents (10&ndash, 13 years, n = 46) in 10 U.S. states, including environmental context, foods selected and reasons for selection, and parental rules about foods consumed. Participants took pictures of all foods consumed over 24 h and participated in semi-structured interviews to describe the context of each eating occasion using the pictures as a guide. Responses based on a total of 304 eating occasions were coded to classify foods based on United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate food groups and to characterize parental rules and reasons for food selection. Average age was 10.9 &plusmn, 1.1 years and 60% were female. Approximately 58% of eating occasions were classified as iEOs with approximately 65% as snacks. Most iEOs took place at home. Foods frequently consumed during iEOs were from the sweets, total fruit, dairy, and whole fruit food categories. Primary parental rules for iEOs focused on avoiding certain foods and not eating too much. Early adolescents selected foods for convenience, taste preferences, and availability. Foods selected during iEOs were based on parent, household and early adolescent factors, which could be addressed to influence overall diet quality.

Background Latino fathers may play important roles in adolescents’ physical activity and screen time. However, informant discrepancies regarding paternal activity parenting practices may challenge studies supporting evidence-based applications. This study examined Latino adolescent-father discrepancies in reporting paternal activity parenting practices, types of discrepancies by participant characteristics, and associations between discrepancy types and adolescents’ physical activity and screen time. Methods The sample for this cross-sectional study included Latino early adolescents and their fathers (n = 138 dyads) from baseline data collected for a family-centered, healthy lifestyle intervention in a metropolitan area. In parallel measures, Latino adolescents and fathers reported paternal activity parenting practices related to expectation or allowance, behavioral modeling, and providing opportunities for physical activity or screen time. Level of agreement and discrepancies were examined using the percentage of agreement, weighted kappa statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and paired-sample t-tests. Undesirable discrepancy types included adolescents reporting lower scores for paternal physical activity parenting practices or higher scores for paternal screen time parenting practices than fathers. Participants’ sociodemographic characteristics and weight status were compared by discrepancy type using between-group t-tests or Chi-square tests. Associations between discrepancy type and adolescents’ physical activity and screen time were examined using multivariate regression analyses. Results The study sample was low-income with a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. Adolescent and paternal reports of activity parenting practices had poor agreement (percentages of agreement: 22.2–34.3%, weighted kappa statistics: p = 0.008) and screen time (β = 0.51, p Conclusion and implications Discrepancies in reporting activity parenting practices were evident between Latino adolescents and their fathers, especially among certain sociodemographic and weight status groups. Adolescents’ perceptions on paternal parenting practices tended to be better indicators of their activity levels than fathers’ reports.

Background Hispanic/Latino adolescents have a high prevalence of overweight/obesity and many are not meeting diet and physical activity (PA) recommendations. Latino father food and PA parenting practices can impact adolescent diet and PA behaviors. Paternal self-efficacy (PSE) for promoting healthy eating and PA may enhance frequency of positive food and PA parenting practices and healthy youth behaviors, yet little information is available about these relationships and change in PSE after intervention programs. Objective Evaluate relationships between PSE for promoting healthy behaviors, father food and PA parenting practices, and adolescent diet and PA, and intervention-based change in PSE. Study Design, Setting, Participants Baseline (n = 190 father/youth (10-14 years) dyads) and intervention data (n = 110 dyads) were used from the community-based, Padres Preparados, Jovenes Saludables program, a randomized, controlled trial in Minneapolis/St. Paul (2017-2020). Eight-weekly education sessions focused on parenting skills and practices, nutrition and PA. Evaluation survey data were collected pre-post program. Measurable Outcome/Analysis PSE, parenting practices, and youth behaviors were measured with scales with acceptable psychometric properties and 24-hour dietary recalls. Regression analyses examined associations between PSE, parenting practices and youth behaviors. Intervention-based change in PSE were evaluated by t tests. Results Mean youth age was 11.6 years, 49% were boys. Adolescent screen time was negatively associated with PSE for promoting PA. Increased PSE was positively associated with increased modeling of fruit and vegetable intake and PA and with making fruit and vegetables and PA opportunities available. PSE for promoting PA increased from pre to post program for intervention compared to control group fathers. Conclusion Confidence in the ability to promote healthy youth lifestyle behaviors was associated with increased frequency of positive paternal modeling and availability practices. PSE for promoting PA improved from pre to post program. Educators could include strategies to promote PSE in future educational programs.

Background Latino family-centered, community-based intervention studies to prevent childhood obesity have primarily involved mothers; therefore, little information about father participation is available. A Latino father-focused program to prevent adolescent obesity was conducted with low participation from some fathers. Objective The study aim was to determine factors associated with fathers’ attendance in an adolescent obesity prevention program. Study Design, Settings, Participants Data were from 147 fathers participating in the Padres Preparados, Jovenes Saludables program, a randomized controlled trial to prevent Latino adolescent (10-14 years) obesity. Eight weekly (2-hour) sessions were conducted in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area (2017-2020). Participants were randomly assigned to intervention or waitlist control groups after baseline data collection. Measurable Outcome/Analysis The program facilitator recorded father presence or absence at each session. Attendance data were used in cluster analysis to identify attendance patterns. Predictor variables were measured at baseline with surveys and via anthropometric measures, including demographics, socioeconomic status, adolescent weight status, adolescent weight concerns, food-related activities with adolescents, family meal frequency, food assistance program participation, family stress, number of children, neighborhood safety, assigned group, site, and session season. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between attendance patterns and predictor variables after assessing appropriateness for inclusion in regression models. Results Three attendance patterns were identified for all fathers: consistently high attendance (52%), declining attendance (18%), and non-attendance (30%). Compared to fathers with a consistently high attendance pattern, fathers with a non-attendance pattern were more likely to be assigned to the waitlisted control group (OR: 7.9 [95% CI: 2.6-23.9]; P Conclusion Maintaining contact with control families during waiting periods and providing online sessions to increase flexibility for low-income families could address Latino father non-attendance.

Assessing outcomes and the impact from behavioral nutrition interventions has remained challenging because of the lack of methods available beyond traditional nutrition assessment tools and techniques. With the current high global obesity and related chronic disease rates, novel methods to evaluate the impact of behavioral nutrition-based interventions are much needed. The objective of this narrative review is to describe and review the current status of knowledge as it relates to 4 different innovative methods or tools to assess behavioral nutrition interventions. Methods reviewed include 1) the assessment of stress and stress responsiveness to enhance the evaluation of nutrition interventions, 2) eye-tracking technology in nutritional interventions, 3) smartphone biosensors to assess nutrition and health-related outcomes, and 4) skin carotenoid measurements to assess fruit and vegetable intake. Specifically, the novel use of functional magnetic resonance imaging, by characterizing the brain's responsiveness to an intervention, can help researchers develop programs with greater efficacy. Similarly, if eye-tracking technology can enable researchers to get a better sense as to how participants view materials, the materials may be better tailored to create an optimal impact. The latter 2 techniques reviewed, smartphone biosensors and methods to detect skin carotenoids, can provide the research community with portable, effective, nonbiased ways to assess dietary intake and quality and more in the field. The information gained from using these types of methodologies can improve the efficacy and assessment of behavior-based nutrition interventions.

Background Less than 2% of children in the U.S., ages 9–13, meet the minimum dietary recommendations for vegetable intake. The home setting provides potential opportunities to promote dietary behavior change among children, yet limited trials exist with child vegetable intake as a primary outcome. Strategies to increase vegetable intake grounded in behavioral economics are no/low cost and may be easily implemented in the home by parents. Methods This non-randomized, controlled study tested whether an intervention of parent-led strategies informed by behavioral economics and implemented within a series of 6 weekly parent-child vegetable cooking skills classes, improved dietary outcomes of a diverse sample of low-income children (ages 9–12) more than the vegetable cooking skills classes alone. The primary outcomes were total vegetable intake, dietary quality (HEI scores), total energy intake, vegetable liking, variety of vegetables tried, child BMI-z score, and home availability of vegetables. Outcome measures were collected at baseline, immediate post-treatment, 6 and 12 months follow-up. Mixed model regression analyses with fixed independent effects (treatment condition, time point and treatment condition x time interaction) were used to compare outcomes between treatment conditions. Results A total of 103 parent/child pairs (intervention = 49, control = 54) were enrolled and 91 (intervention = 44, control = 47) completed the weekly cooking skills program. The intervention did not improve child total vegetable intake. Intervention children increased dark green vegetable intake from immediate post-treatment to 12 months. The number of vegetables children tried increased and mean vegetable liking decreased over time for both control and intervention children. Conclusions Findings from this study suggest that the strategies and the manner in which they were implemented may not be effective in low-income populations. The burden of implementing a number of strategies with potentially higher food costs may have constrained the ability of families in the current study to use the strategies as intended. Trial registration This trial has been retrospectively registered at : #NCT03641521 on August 21, 2018. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-7079-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Dietary quality of Hispanic/Latino adults residing in homes with children may differ by gender, that in turn, may impact youth through role modeling and food availability. Using a nationally representative sample (n = 1039) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2016), adjusted regression analyses were used to examine food-related practices, food group intake, and dietary quality among Hispanic/Latino men and women in homes with children (6–17 years). Compared to women, men had lower total 2015 Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores and component HEI scores for healthy food groups. Men also ate more meals that were not home prepared/week and purchased more foods from non-grocery stores than women. Negative food-related practices and working more hours/week may explain in part the lower dietary quality observed among Hispanic/Latino men than women. Interventions may be improved by targeting gender-specific food-related behaviors that could positively impact dietary quality of youth residing with them.

Background Latino father involvement in meals and food management may be related to frequency of food parenting practices that could improve adolescent dietary intake. However, limited information exists about this relationship. Objective To examine associations between the frequency of Latino fathers’ meal/food involvement and father food parenting practices based on adolescent report. Study Design, Setting, Participants A cross-sectional study was conducted using baseline survey data from Latino adolescents (10-14 years, n = 138) participating in a community-based intervention with fathers to prevent obesity (2017-2019). Adolescents reported frequency of fathers’ meal/food involvement, and father food parenting practices using tested survey instruments. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Logistic regression models were used to examine associations of family meals; meals with fathers; and paternal food involvement (planning, buying, preparing) (independent variables) with food parenting practices (setting expectations; role modeling; home food availability for fruits, vegetables, and sugar-sweetened beverages [SSBs]) (dependent variables) adjusted for income; children in the home; and adolescent age and sex. Results Greater father food involvement was associated with expecting adolescents’ fruit intake ≥2 times/day (OR, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.30-7.08), role modeling fruit intake (OR, 3.53; 95% CI, 1.51-8.30), and making fruit available >3 times per week (OR, 4.04; 95% CI, 1.67-9.79). Meals with fathers ≥5 times/week was associated with role modeling fruit and vegetable intakes >3 times per week (OR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.28-6.43 for fruit; and OR, 3.26; 95% CI, 1.51-7.06 for vegetables), and making fruit and vegetables available >3 times per week (OR, 3.45; 95% CI, 1.52-7.86 for fruit; and OR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.29-6.72 for vegetables). Family meals ≥5 times/week were positively associated with making SSBs available ≥2 times/week (OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.07-5.98). Conclusions Food and meal involvement among Latino fathers may enable certain food parenting practices to improve adolescent food behaviors.

Background Calcium intake during early adolescence falls short of requirements for maximum bone accretion. Parents and the home food environment potentially influence children’s calcium intakes. This study aimed to quantify parental psychosocial factors (PSF) predicting calcium intakes of Asian, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white (NHW) early adolescent children from a parental perspective. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving the administration of a validated calcium-specific food frequency questionnaire to a convenience sample of children aged 10–13 years and the primary individual responsible for food acquisition in the child’s household. Based on Social Cognitive Theory, parental factors potentially associated with children’s calcium intake were also assessed via parent questionnaires. The total study sample consisted of 633 parent-child pairs (Asian = 110, Hispanic = 239, NHW = 284). Questionnaires were completed at community-based centers/sites. Outcome measures were the association between parent-child calcium (mg), milk (cups/day), and soda (cans/day) intakes and the predictive value of significant parental PSF towards calcium intakes of their children. Sex-adjusted linear regression and multivariate analyses were performed. Results Calcium intakes of parent-child pairs were positively associated among all ethnic groups (r = 0.296; P

Child vegetable intake falls far below the minimum recommended levels. Knowing which vegetables children may like help those responsible for providing vegetables to children to improve intake. The objective of this study was to measure vegetable liking for a wide variety of vegetables by a racially and ethnically diverse population of 9&ndash, 12-year old children from low-income families. Children rated their liking of 35 vegetables using a 10-point hedonic scale. We tabulated the number of children that found each vegetable acceptable (ratings of &lsquo, okay&rsquo, or above) and the number that found each vegetable unacceptable (ratings below &lsquo, ). More than 50% of children who had tried a vegetable considered it acceptable. A large majority of the vegetables had mean ratings in the acceptable range. Corn was the most liked vegetable, closely followed by potatoes, lettuce, and carrots. Artichoke had the lowest mean liking, followed by onion and beets. We found children liked a wide variety of vegetables which offers counter evidence to the commonly held perception that children do not like vegetables.

The purpose of this study was to understand adolescents’ from low-income households perceptions of their involvement in home food preparation, reasons underlying the extent to which they were involved, and positive and negative consequences associated with their involvement. Semistructured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 19 adolescents (13-18 years). Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim. Themes were identified using grounded theory and the constant comparative method. Eight adolescents described cooking as a primary responsibility due to adult work and family schedules, age, gender, and/or cultural expectations. They were typically preparing food for themselves and their family without assistance, and making decisions about what was prepared. They identified positive and negative consequences including enjoyment and satisfaction, as well as stress and less time for other activities. Eleven adolescents mostly assisted the primary food preparer, with little input in deciding what was prepared. They identified benefits such as enjoyment and family interaction. Foods prepared by many adolescents tended to be quick and easy to prepare foods. Future studies should investigate the relationship between adultified cooking responsibilities, diet quality, and health. Also, cooking education for adolescents needs to address how to prepare a healthy family meal on a budget.

Parents play an important role in promoting healthy beverage intake among children. Message-framing approaches, where outcomes are described as positive (gain) or negative (loss) results, can be used to encourage parenting practices that promote healthy beverage intakes. This study tested the effectiveness of message framing on motivation for parenting practices targeting reductions in child sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake (controlling availability, role modeling) and dispositional factors moderating effectiveness. Parents (n = 380) completed a survey to assess motivation after viewing gain- and loss-framed messages to engage in parenting practices, usual beverage intake, and home beverage availability. Paired t-tests were used to examine differences in motivation scores after viewing gain- vs. loss-framed messages for all parents and by subgroups according to low vs. high SSB intake and home availability, and weight status. Gain- versus loss-framed messages were related to higher motivation scores for both parenting practices for all parents (n = 380, p < 0.01) and most subgroups. No differences were observed by message frame for parents in low home SSB availability or normal and overweight BMI subgroups for controlling availability. Gain- versus loss-framed messages were related to higher motivation scores, therefore gain-framed messages are recommended for parent interventions intended to decrease child intake of SSBs.

Among early adolescents (10-14 years), poor diet quality along with physical inactivity can contribute to an increased risk of obesity and associated biomarkers for chronic disease. Approximately one-third of United States (USA) children in this age group are overweight or obese. Therefore, attention to factors affecting dietary intake as one of the primary contributors to obesity is important. Early adolescents consume foods and beverages during eating occasions that occur with and without parental supervision. Parents may influence eating behaviors of early adolescents during eating occasions when they are present or during independent eating occasions by engaging in practices that affect availability of foods and beverages, and through perceived normative beliefs and expectations for intake. Therefore, the purpose of this article was to describe the influence of parenting practices on eating behaviors in general and when specifically applied to independent eating occasions of early adolescents. This information may be helpful to inform parenting interventions targeting obesity prevention among early adolescents focusing on independent eating occasions.

BACKGROUND: Cooking and food skills interventions have grown in popularity; however, there is a lack of transparency as to how these interventions were designed, highlighting a need to identify and understand the mechanisms of behavior change so that effective components may be introduced in future work. This study critiques cooking and food skills interventions in relation to their design, behavior change techniques (BCTs), theoretical underpinnings, and outcomes.\ud \ud METHODS: A 40-item CALO-RE taxonomy was used to examine the components of 59 cooking and food skills interventions identified by two systematic reviews. Studies were coded by three independent coders.\ud \ud RESULTS: The three most frequently occurring BCTs identified were #1 Provide information on consequences of behavior in general; #21 Provide instruction on how to perform the behavior; and #26 Prompt Practice. Fifty-six interventions reported positive short-term outcomes. Only 14 interventions reported long-term outcomes containing BCTs relating to information provision.\ud \ud CONCLUSION: This study reviewed cooking and food skills interventions highlighting the most commonly used BCTs, and those associated with long-term positive outcomes for cooking skills and diet. This study indicates the potential for using the BCT CALO-RE taxonomy to inform the design, planning, delivery and evaluation of future interventions.

Reliable, valid, and easy-to-implement tools are required to assess children’s fruit and vegetable intake as part of behavior change-focused nutrition education programs; however, the availability of such instruments is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the reproducibility and accuracy of two brief fruit and vegetable intake questionnaires among 8- to 12-year-old children. A total of 109 participants from diverse racial/ethnic groups were recruited from urban afterschool programs. The results of two short questionnaires (food web and plate activity) were reproducible between two repeated measures conducted one week apart. Compared to a reference 24-h dietary recall, the food web questionnaire had acceptable convergent validity for assessing children’s fruit intake (kappa: 0.51; r = 0.53, p < 0.001), but limited validity for assessing children’s vegetable intake (kappa: 0.43; r = 0.33, p < 0.003). Children tended to overestimate intake when visualizing fruit and vegetable consumption via the plate activity questionnaire, indicating that this questionnaire was not a valid tool to assess children’s fruit and vegetable consumption at dinner meals. Children’s report of fruit intake via the food web questionnaire may be a useful indicator of program success in improving fruit intake.