Communication About Food and Nutrition in the Parent Child Dyad

Developmentally appropriate messaging interventions may be an effective way to promote healthy behaviors in young children. However, there is a gap in the literature describing communication about food and nutrition within the parent-child dyad. Thus, we explored the content, frequency, context, and purpose of parental conversations about food and nutrition.

Using a semi-structured interview guide, 20 in-person interviews were conducted with parents of 3 to 9 year old children living in Washington and Oregon at the location of their choice.

Qualitative data was analyzed using open coding and grounded theory.

Three categories described communication within the dyad: purpose, content, and the bidirectional interaction between the parent and the child. Purpose included three themes: consumption, variety, and balance. Content included three themes: food-related content, body-related content, and utilizing connections. Subthemes within food-related content included properties, production, and preparation. Body-related content subthemes were utilization of food in the body and interoceptive awareness. Parents highlighted connections between the food and body-related content. Lastly, parent-child conversations about food and nutrition were dynamic and bidirectional with parents adapting to child factors.

Our findings provide a description of parent communication about food and nutrition and suggest investigation of the purpose and content of communication and how parents tailor messages to their child.