Describing Independent Eating Occasions among Low-Income Adolescents

Jinan Banna, Rickelle Richards, Blake Jones, Alex Kojo Anderson, Marla Reicks, Mary Cluskey, Carolyn Gunther, Nobuko Kay Hongu, Karina Lora, Scottie Misner, Lillie Monroe-Lord, Glade Topham, Siew Sun Wong and Eunjung Lim
Additional contact information
Jinan Banna: Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Rickelle Richards: Department of Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Blake Jones: Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Alex Kojo Anderson: Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Marla Reicks: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
Mary Cluskey: School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Nutrition, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
Carolyn Gunther: Department of Human Sciences, Ohio State University, Human Nutrition Program, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Nobuko Kay Hongu: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Karina Lora: Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
Scottie Misner: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Lillie Monroe-Lord: Center for Nutrition, Diet and Health, University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Glade Topham: Couple and Family Therapy Program, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
Siew Sun Wong: School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Nutrition, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
Eunjung Lim: Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: The purpose of this formative, cross-sectional study was to describe independent eating occasions (iEOs) among a convenience sample of low-income early adolescents (10–13 years, n = 46) in 10 U.S. states, including environmental context, foods selected and reasons for selection, and parental rules about foods consumed. Participants took pictures of all foods consumed over 24 h and participated in semi-structured interviews to describe the context of each eating occasion using the pictures as a guide. Responses based on a total of 304 eating occasions were coded to classify foods based on United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate food groups and to characterize parental rules and reasons for food selection. Average age was 10.9 ± 1.1 years and 60% were female. Approximately 58% of eating occasions were classified as iEOs with approximately 65% as snacks. Most iEOs took place at home. Foods frequently consumed during iEOs were from the sweets, total fruit, dairy, and whole fruit food categories. Primary parental rules for iEOs focused on avoiding certain foods and not eating too much. Early adolescents selected foods for convenience, taste preferences, and availability. Foods selected during iEOs were based on parent, household and early adolescent factors, which could be addressed to influence overall diet quality.

Keywords: adolescents; low-income; diet quality; independent eating occasions; parents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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