Transcript Healthy Habits: - DigitalCommons@URI

An Exploration of Family
Eating Choices and Practices
HEALTHY HABITS:
Stephanie Bramley
Senior Honors Project
Why?
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Health of families with young children
Role of socio-economic status
Influence of US culture on Latino families
How?
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Literature Review
Interviews
Observations
Meal Book
Lifestyle Factors
“Family identified…as foundational to working (to address overweight as a major
health concern) within this Latino community” (Snethen 367).
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Acculturation in children and adults (Kaiser 1110-1111).
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Food as intimate (Kaufman 2181).
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Food as gratification (Kaufman 2185).
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Differing perceptions of healthy
Education and Awareness
“In Mexico, indulgent child-feeding practices and lack of parental awareness about the
health risks of childhood obesity are associated with childhood obesity in middleincome families” (Kaiser 1116).
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Knowledge of ways to prevent obesity (Snethen 368)
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Barriers to healthy food/physical activity (Snethen, Sherry 217)
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Access/neighborhood
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Working conditions
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Transportation
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Habit
Role modeling (Snethen 370, Sherry 215)
Food Consumption Behaviors
“Dietetic professionals need to consider cultural differences when developing meal and
snack patterns for Hispanic and non-Hispanic clients” (Ziegler S121).
Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Toddler’s Food Intake
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Hispanic children…
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High afternoon snack consumption (Ziegler S107)
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Higher sweet consumption (Ziegler S113)
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Meat or protein source
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Higher fiber intake
Similar for both ethic groups…
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25% of daily energy from snacks (Ziegler S113)
Sweetened beverages -should be monitored (Ziegler S120)
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Dinner items
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Afternoon snacks (Ziegler S115)
Interviews
with 9 Latin American mothers at the Smith Hill Early Learning Center in Providence.
Questions Included…
What factors
affect your
meal and
food choices
and
preparation?
What can
help prevent
obesity and
promote
health in
children and
adults?
Does child
consume an
afternoon
snack, and
if so, what
consist of?
Has
living
in the
US
affected
your
food
choices?
2-United States
2-Puerto Rico
1-Jamaica
(9 yrs in US)
Mothers from….
1-El Salvador
1-Nicaragua
(21 yrs in US)
1-Guatemala
(15 yrs in US)
1- Dominican Republic
(24 yrs in US)
Responses- Experiences
Experience in Latin countries
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Cooking with oil
Fresh produce
Homemade foods
Experimenting with spices and
recipes
Meats same in US
McDonalds is “cool”, “luxury,” a
“treat”
Much more walking, playing outside
“My mother taught me everything I
know”
Experience in US
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Education on unhealthy habits
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Easy access to quick meals
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Canned and processed foods
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Still continue to cook family foods
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American snacks
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Less walking, more TV time
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Diverse cuisines
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Appliances
ResponsesHow to Prevent Obesity
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Mothers are aware of good practices, as Snethen found
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Exercising
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Eating right
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Less TV time
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Positive parental influence
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More outside time/PE in schools
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Less fast food, more food made from scratch
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Cut sweet stuff
Observations
How and where?
URI Child Development Center
Ages 3-5
Lunch Time
Pastas
Sandwiches
My first vegetable…can you find it?
The child really wanted me
to take a picture of the spoon!
Notice mac and cheese,
yogurt, fruit, chips/snack
Notice PB & J sandwich,
yogurt, chex mix snack
Squeezable “go-gurts” are a
hit!
What I saw…
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Grains- often
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Vegetables- hardly
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Fruits- often
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Milk- often
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Meat and beans- hardly
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Sugar- lots
New in 2005- emphasizes variety
and includes exercise
Meal Book
“Frijoles a la Charra”
(Good slow-cooker recipe)
“Mexican Jicama Snack”
“Calabacitas con Queso”
(Zucchinis with Cheese)
“Homemade Applesauce”
What to take with me- Cheers!
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Changed Assumptions
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Importance of Parental Influence
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Appreciation
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Connection
My house mates and I having some pudding
(“Calci-yum!”) in martini glasses
Any Questions?!
References
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Duerksen, Susan C., et al. (2007). “Family restaurant choices are associated with child and adult overweight
status in Mexican-American families.” American Dietetic Association, 107:849-853.
Kaiser, Lucia L. and Melgar-Quinonez, Hugo R. (2004). “Relationship of child-feeding practices to
overweight in low-income Mexican-American preschool-aged children.” American Dietetic Association,
104:1110-1119.
Kaufman, Leslie and Karpati, Adam. (2007). “Understanding the sociocultural roots of childhood obesity:
Food practices among Latino families of Bushwick, Brooklyn.” Social Science & Medicine, 64: 2177-2188.
Sherry, Bettylou, et al. (2004). “Attitudes, practices, and concerns about child feeding and child weight
status among socioeconomically diverse White, Hispanic, and African-American mothers.” American Dietetic
Association, 104: 215-221.
Snethen, Julia A., Hewitt, Jeanne B., and Petering, David H. (2007). “Addressing childhood overweight:
Strategies learned from one Latino community.” Journal of Transcultural Learning, 18:366-372.
United States. National Survey of Children’s Health. Child Trends: Family Meals. 2003.
www.childtrenddatabank.org
Ziegler, Paula, et al. (2006). “Feeding infants and toddlers study: Meal and snack intakes of Hispanic and
non-Hispanic infants and toddlers .” American Dietetic Association, 106: S107-S123.