Abstract
BackgroundFamily meal participation is associated with healthier eating among children and adolescents. Less is known about family meal participation among infants and toddlers. The objective of the present study was to explore whether family meal participation at 12 months of age is associated with dietary intake and whether a potential relationship differs according to maternal education or child sex.MethodsFollow-up data from children born to mothers participating in the Norwegian Fit for Delivery (NFFD) trial during pregnancy were used to assess the frequency of intake of 11 dietary items according to frequency of participating in the respective family meals. Dietary differences according to seldom (0–3 times/week) or often (4–7 times/week) participating in each respective meal category were assessed in linear regression models. Potential dose-response associations with frequency of participation in all family meal categories combined were also estimated. Models were adjusted for maternal randomization status, education, and child sex.ResultsThe sample comprised 408 children. A total of 74, 53 and 74% had breakfast, lunch, and dinner with family ≥4 times/week, respectively, while 39% had supper and 27% between-meal snacks with family ≥4 times/week. Having family dinner ≥4 times/week was associated with more frequent intake of vegetables, homemade infant cereal, milk, and water, and less frequent intake of commercial infant foods while the other family meal categories were associated with fewer dietary outcomes. For each additional meal category eaten with family ≥4 times/week, frequency of vegetable intake (β = 0.45), water (β = 0.17), and milk (β = 0.09) per day increased, while commercial infant cereal was eaten less frequently (β = − 0.18). The inverse association between family meals and commercial infant cereal was only evident in children born to mothers in the intervention group. Several associations with diet were stronger and only significant among boys.ConclusionsBeing fed in the context of family meals at 12 months of age was associated with a more favorable diet. Including the infant in family meals has potential in the promotion of early nutritional health.
Highlights
Optimal nutrition is fundamental to healthy growth and development in the first 1000 days of life due to rapid neural and musculoskeletal growth and maturation [1, 2]
The aim of the present study was three-fold: (i) to investigate cross-sectional associations of family meal participation at 12 months of age with dietary intake in a dataset of first-born children of mothers having participated in a randomized controlled lifestyle intervention during pregnancy, (ii) to identify potential differences in this relationship according to maternal education, and (iii) to explore whether a potential relationship between early family meal participation and child dietary intake differ according to child sex
Children of mothers who participated in the Norwegian Fit for Delivery (NFFD) and for whom dietary data was provided at 12 months of age, were included in the present analyses (n = 408)
Summary
Optimal nutrition is fundamental to healthy growth and development in the first 1000 days of life due to rapid neural and musculoskeletal growth and maturation [1, 2]. The type and variety of food and beverages provided during infancy and toddlerhood may influence life-long health both in terms of biological development and by shaping long-lasting eating patterns [3, 4]. Regular participation in family meals has been associated with multiple health benefits in children and adolescents, including healthier diet and eating patterns and lower odds of eating disorders, overweight and obesity [8, 9]. An updated meta-analysis by Dallacker et al [10] confirmed these findings and found that the associations were robust to potential influence of country of residence, child age, number of family members participating in the meal, and type of meal. As age was only crudely accounted for in these models (< 11 vs ≥ 11 years), associations between family meal participation and nutritional health in the youngest sub-groups cannot be inferred. The objective of the present study was to explore whether family meal participation at 12 months of age is associated with dietary intake and whether a potential relationship differs according to maternal education or child sex
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