Adolescent-Reported Latino Fathers’ Food Parenting Practices and Family Meal Frequency Are Associated with Better Adolescent Dietary Intake

Aysegul Baltaci, Silvia Alvarez de Davila, Alejandro Omar Reyes Peralta, Melissa N. Laska, Nicole Larson, Ghaffar Ali Hurtado and Marla Reicks
Additional contact information
Aysegul Baltaci: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55410, USA
Silvia Alvarez de Davila: Center for Family Development, University of Minnesota Extension, Minneapolis, MN 55411, USA
Alejandro Omar Reyes Peralta: Center for Family Development, University of Minnesota Extension, Minneapolis, MN 55411, USA
Melissa N. Laska: School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
Nicole Larson: School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
Ghaffar Ali Hurtado: School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Marla Reicks: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55410, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-15

Abstract: Most studies of food-related parenting practices, parental meal involvement, and adolescent dietary intake have focused on maternal influences; studies of paternal influences, particularly among marginalized groups, are lacking. This study examined lower-income, Latino fathers’ food parenting practices and involvement in planning meals, buying/preparing foods, and family meal frequency, separately and in combination, to identify relationships with adolescent food intake. Baseline data were used from Latino adolescents (10–14 years, n = 191, 49% boys) participating with their fathers in a community-based overweight/obesity prevention intervention. Fathers reported sociodemographic characteristics. Adolescents reported frequency of fathers’ food parenting practices, fathers’ food/meal involvement, and family meals and participated in 24 h dietary recalls. The analysis included regression models using GLM (generalized linear mixed model) and PLM (post GLM processing) procedures. Most fathers were married, employed full-time, and had annual incomes below USD 50,000. Favorable fathers’ food parenting practices were associated with adolescent intake of more fruit and vegetables and fewer sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets/salty snacks, and less fast food ( p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). No independent effects of family meal frequency or fathers’ food/meal involvement were observed on adolescent dietary outcomes. Additional analyses showed favorable food parenting practices in combination with frequent family meals were associated with adolescents having a higher intake of fruit ( p = 0.011). Latino fathers can have an important positive influence on adolescent dietary intake.

Keywords: Latino fathers; early adolescents’ consumption; fruit and vegetables; sweets/salty snacks; sugar-sweetened beverages; fast food; fathers’ food parenting practices; family meals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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