Encouraging Reductions in Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption: HomeStyles Best Drinks for Families Guide

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess the effects of the HomeStyles Best Drinks for Families instructional guide, which provides tips for replacing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) with milk and water, on parents of preschool children.Design, Setting, Participants, and InterventionParents (n=42) completed a survey and received different instructional guides focusing on childhood obesity prevention topics and a coaching call each week for 8 weeks.ResultsMost parents were white (79%), female (95%), and college graduates (90%). On the pre-survey, parents felt confident that they could get their preschoolers to drink fewer SSBs (mean=4.45±0.77SD on 5-point scale) and disagreed they had to pressure kids to drink milk (mean=2.02±1.26SD; 5-point scale). Content analysis of the coaching calls revealed many parents offered preschoolers SSBs as a treat or reward. After reading the Best Drinks guide, many planned to limit children’s SSB consumption and offer more milk or water. Some planned to begin diluting children’s juice, store SSBs in ways that deter kids from serving themselves, and use decorative cups or straws to make drinking healthier beverages fun. Parents felt limiting SSB in their family was very important (mean=9.45±0.91SD, 10-point scale). Goals set by many parents after reading the guide were to limit SSB intake, increase milk and water intake, and communicate the importance of decreasing SSB with spouses and caregivers. At later coaching calls, most reported successfully meeting SSB goals.Conclusion and ImplicationsBest Drinks for Families guide coupled with a brief coaching call has the potential to successfully help parents decrease SSB intake.FundingNIFA, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Ann Hertzler Research Grant ObjectiveTo assess the effects of the HomeStyles Best Drinks for Families instructional guide, which provides tips for replacing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) with milk and water, on parents of preschool children. To assess the effects of the HomeStyles Best Drinks for Families instructional guide, which provides tips for replacing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) with milk and water, on parents of preschool children. Design, Setting, Participants, and InterventionParents (n=42) completed a survey and received different instructional guides focusing on childhood obesity prevention topics and a coaching call each week for 8 weeks. Parents (n=42) completed a survey and received different instructional guides focusing on childhood obesity prevention topics and a coaching call each week for 8 weeks. ResultsMost parents were white (79%), female (95%), and college graduates (90%). On the pre-survey, parents felt confident that they could get their preschoolers to drink fewer SSBs (mean=4.45±0.77SD on 5-point scale) and disagreed they had to pressure kids to drink milk (mean=2.02±1.26SD; 5-point scale). Content analysis of the coaching calls revealed many parents offered preschoolers SSBs as a treat or reward. After reading the Best Drinks guide, many planned to limit children’s SSB consumption and offer more milk or water. Some planned to begin diluting children’s juice, store SSBs in ways that deter kids from serving themselves, and use decorative cups or straws to make drinking healthier beverages fun. Parents felt limiting SSB in their family was very important (mean=9.45±0.91SD, 10-point scale). Goals set by many parents after reading the guide were to limit SSB intake, increase milk and water intake, and communicate the importance of decreasing SSB with spouses and caregivers. At later coaching calls, most reported successfully meeting SSB goals. Most parents were white (79%), female (95%), and college graduates (90%). On the pre-survey, parents felt confident that they could get their preschoolers to drink fewer SSBs (mean=4.45±0.77SD on 5-point scale) and disagreed they had to pressure kids to drink milk (mean=2.02±1.26SD; 5-point scale). Content analysis of the coaching calls revealed many parents offered preschoolers SSBs as a treat or reward. After reading the Best Drinks guide, many planned to limit children’s SSB consumption and offer more milk or water. Some planned to begin diluting children’s juice, store SSBs in ways that deter kids from serving themselves, and use decorative cups or straws to make drinking healthier beverages fun. Parents felt limiting SSB in their family was very important (mean=9.45±0.91SD, 10-point scale). Goals set by many parents after reading the guide were to limit SSB intake, increase milk and water intake, and communicate the importance of decreasing SSB with spouses and caregivers. At later coaching calls, most reported successfully meeting SSB goals. Conclusion and ImplicationsBest Drinks for Families guide coupled with a brief coaching call has the potential to successfully help parents decrease SSB intake. Best Drinks for Families guide coupled with a brief coaching call has the potential to successfully help parents decrease SSB intake.