Preschoolers’ Food Intakes and Mothers’ Expectations

Abstract

LEARNING OUTCOME: To compare mothers’ expectations of their preschool child's food intake with current nutrition recommendations. As part of an on-going longitudinal study of preschool children, one of two Registered Dietitians interviewed mothers in their home about what her child ate (a 24-hour recall, food records for 2 days). Mothers also reported how often the child's food-related behaviors, such as eating a variety of foods and eating an adequate amount, met their expectations. The sample included 73 middle/upper socioeconomic status mothers whose children were 42 months of age (±2 weeks) at the time of this data collection. Mothers answered 10 questions, using 1 to 7 response scales (1=never/not at all, 7=always/to a great extent) and 8 short response questions. Results indicated that group mean nutrient intakes met the Recommended Dietary Allowances for all nutrients except zinc and vitamins D and E, which is similar to findings when these children were younger. Dietary fat provided 30% of energy. Mothers rated their child as a moderately good eater (41%), very good (25%), or extremely good (11%). Mothers used persuasion about half the time to encourage eating (x̄ = 4.1±1.6 SD on the 7-point scale) and infrequently offered food rewards for eating other foods (x̄ = 2.6±1.6) or prepared special foods for the child (x̄ = 2.6±1.6). Mothers (85%) used verbal praise to reinforce positive eating behaviors. Family meals reflected the child's likes and dislikes only to a moderate extent (x̄ = 4.5±1.4), but foods purchased away from home greatly reflected the child's preferences (6.2±1.0). To a moderate extent, children ate the variety (x̄ = 4.5±1.5) and amounts (4.6±1.5) of foods mothers expected, but 49% of mothers considered the child a “picky eater.” Given that these children met current nutrition recommendations, it appears that mothers’ expectations were not congruent with dietary results.