Mothers’ Cooking: Perspectives of Givers and Takers

The burden of malnutrition children is a global challenge. Promoting mothers to prepare their own meals at home indicated as an important strategy prevent and improve nutrition in children. Despite the fact that prepared by are healthier, little known about what cooking means Thai context. This descriptive qualitative research intended describe perceptions perspectives mothers’ among school-age Descriptive research, using in-depth interviews with 10 aged 31 80 years old 12 old, was conducted. Participants were selected purposive sampling from sub-districts partners network project Songkhla province. Data analyzed content analysis. results provided mothers' children's Thais perceived quite differently based on whether perspective toward giver or addressed taker. For giver, defined terms power love, happiness time, feeling self-worth, mother’s role responsibility. taker, best thing most delicious, family relationship, giving sharing, demonstration love care. Additionally, this study highlighted perception can be divided into 3 steps, namely, preparation, eating together. These findings may help determining how public health programs improved promoted within healthy strategy.
 HIGHLIGHTS
 
 provision optimal during childhood critical good health, growth, development
 “Mother's cooking” still common tradition culture daily life, but attitudes food
 Cooking activities demonstrated transferred wisdom children
 Eating strengthened bonds became rule habit passed down generation generation