Associations of family feeding and mealtime practices with children's overall diet quality: Results from a prospective population-based cohort

Abstract Food parenting practices are considered to have a key influence on children's dietary habits, with potential long term effects. In this study, we explored the associations of parental feeding and family mealtime in early childhood overall diet quality at school age among 3626 parents their children population-based cohort study Rotterdam, Netherlands. Parental (monitoring, pressure eat, restriction) (meal skipping behaviors meal frequency) 4 years were assessed by questionnaires. Children's intake was 8 using food-frequency questionnaire, from which scores (range 0–10) calculated, reflecting adherence age-specific guidelines. Using multivariable linear regression models, found that monitoring associated higher (β = 0.12; 95%CI: 0.08, 0.16), whereas eat lower (β = −0.08; −0.12, −0.04)), both independent child BMI. Restriction quality, but association explained As compared who did not skip meals, skipped meals had (e.g. breakfast skipping: β = −0.32; −0.48, −0.17). Similarly, less frequent those every day dinner ≤2 days/week: β = −0.37; −0.60, −0.14). These driven single food groups. conclusion, routines may provide supportive environment promotes quality. Longitudinal studies repeated measurements needed replicate our findings.