Abstract
Picky eating has been associated with decreased diet quality among young children, thus exploring strategies that parents can use to decrease picky eating behaviors is crucial. In the present study, we sought to examine two objectives: whether 1) home availability of vegetables and fruit at 12 months is associated with picky eating at 36 months; and 2) parental feeding practices, particularly pressure to eat and restriction, at 12 months is associated with picky eating at 36 months. Longitudinal data were drawn from the [blinded for review] birth cohort (n = 468 families). At 12 months, research assistants and mothers completed measures of home food availability and parental feeding practices, respectively, and at 36 months, mothers completed a measure of child picky eating. Hierarchical regressions revealed that pressure to eat at 12 months is positively associated with picky eating at 36 months, even in the adjusted models. In the unadjusted models, vegetable availability and use of restriction at 12 months were only marginally, negatively associated with picky eating at 36 months. Fruit availability was not a significant predictor. Future research on the benefits of early vegetable exposure and reduction of coercive feeding practices is needed to develop strategies for preventing picky eating.
Recommended Citation
Popoolapade, Naomi and Barton, Jennifer
(2025)
"Associations between Fruit and Vegetable Availability, Parental Feeding Practices, and Picky Eating During Toddlerhood,"
Undergraduate Research (Journal): Vol. 4:
Iss.
2, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58361/2766-3590.1080
Available at:
https://kb.gcsu.edu/undergraduateresearch/vol4/iss2/6
