Home Food Environment Factors Associated With Hispanic Preschoolers' Intake of Fruits and Vegetables

Fam Community Health. 2019 Oct/Dec;42(4):261-270. doi: 10.1097/FCH.0000000000000235.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of home fruit and vegetable (F&V) availability and maternal feeding practices with Hispanic preschoolers' F&V intake (N = 238). "Availability' of total fruit" (P < .0001) and "modeling" (P < .020) increased the odds of consuming 1 or more cups of fruit. "Pressure" (P < .009) and the child being female (P < .028) increased the odds of consuming 1 or more cups of vegetables, while having a greater number of children in the home (P < .037) reduced the odds of consuming 1 or more cups of vegetables. To increase preschoolers' intake of F&V, interventions should target specific environmental factors in the home and maternal monitoring practices.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Feeding Behavior / physiology*
  • Female
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Vegetables / chemistry*