HEALTHY HABITS: An Exploration of Family Eating Choices and Practices Stephanie Bramley Senior Honors Project

Why?  Health of families with young children  Role of socio-economic status  Influence of US culture on Latino families

How?  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).  Acculturation in children and adults (Kaiser ).  Food as intimate (Kaufman 2181).  Food as gratification (Kaufman 2185).  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 middle- income families” (Kaiser 1116).  Knowledge of ways to prevent obesity (Snethen 368)  Barriers to healthy food/physical activity (Snethen, Sherry 217)  Access/neighborhood  Working conditions  Transportation  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  Hispanic children…  High afternoon snack consumption (Ziegler S107)  Higher sweet consumption (Ziegler S113)  Meat or protein source  Higher fiber intake  Similar for both ethic groups…  25% of daily energy from snacks (Ziegler S113)  Sweetened beverages -should be monitored (Ziegler S120)  Dinner items  Afternoon snacks (Ziegler S115)

Interviews with 9 Latin American mothers at the Smith Hill Early Learning Center in Providence. Questions Included… What can help prevent obesity and promote health in children and adults? Has living in the US affected your food choices? Does child consume an afternoon snack, and if so, what consist of? What factors affect your meal and food choices and preparation?

Mothers from…. 2-Puerto Rico 1-El Salvador 1-Nicaragua (21 yrs in US) 1- Dominican Republic (24 yrs in US) 1-Guatemala (15 yrs in US) 1-Jamaica (9 yrs in US) 2-United States

Responses- Experiences  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”  Education on unhealthy habits  Easy access to quick meals  Canned and processed foods  Still continue to cook family foods  American snacks  Less walking, more TV time  Diverse cuisines  Appliances Experience in Latin countriesExperience in US

Responses- How to Prevent Obesity  Mothers are aware of good practices, as Snethen found  Exercising  Eating right  Less TV time  Positive parental influence  More outside time/PE in schools  Less fast food, more food made from scratch  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…  Grains- often  Vegetables- hardly  Fruits- often  Milk- often  Meat and beans- hardly  Sugar- lots New in emphasizes variety and includes exercise

Meal Book “Homemade Applesauce” “Mexican Jicama Snack” “Calabacitas con Queso” (Zucchinis with Cheese) “Frijoles a la Charra” (Good slow-cooker recipe)

What to take with me- Cheers!  Changed Assumptions  Importance of Parental Influence  Appreciation  Connection My house mates and I having some pudding (“Calci-yum!”) in martini glasses Any Questions?!

References  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:  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:  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:  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:  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:  United States. National Survey of Children’s Health. Child Trends: Family Meals  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.