Vanhempien käsityksiä päiväkoti-ikäisten lasten kasvisten, hedelmien ja sokeripitoisten elintarvikkeiden syömiseen vaikuttavista tekijöistä

Authors

• Carola Ray Folkhälsanin tutkimuskeskus, Helsinki, Finland
• Suvi Määttä Folkhälsanin tutkimuskeskus, Helsinki, Finland
• Gun Roos Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Consumption Research Norway SIFO, Oslo, Norja
• Eva Roos Folkhälsanin tutkimuskeskus, Helsinki, Finland

Keywords:

preschool children, päiväkoti-ikäiset lapset, eating habits, ruokatottumukset, parents’ perceptions, vanhempien käsitykset, qualitative research, laadullinen tutkimus

Abstract

Parents’ perceptions about factors related to their children’s fruit- and
vegetable (FV) and sugar-enriched food intake is a less studied subject, even if it is
well-known that parents have an important role for their children’s food intake. This
study aims to bring up parents’ perceptions of factors influencing children’s intake of
FV and sugar-enriched foods. Focus groups (n=6) were conducted among parents (n=17) of 3 to 5–year old children during autumn 2014. Two researchers independently analysed the data. The data was classified into four groups based on the
interactions between factors influencing children’s food intake: a) the interaction between child and parents (factors such as the personality of the child, parents as role
models), b) the physical and social environment of the home (such as the efforts parents put on feeding, practices related to availability), c) home and preschool (such as
new foods tasted at preschool and then tastes are tasted at home, the meal pattern)
d) home and the society (the price of FV, the public discussion about food and health).
In conclusion, parents’ perceived that they interact with their children, with the home
environment, the preschool, and the society when influencing their children’s FV and
sugar-enriched food intake. Increasing parents’ awareness and knowledge about food
parenting practices and clearly outspoken rules could be beneficial for children’s food
intake. More research is needed about the interaction between preschool and home,
and about the role of socioeconomic status for children’s food intake.