Powell Faye, Farrow Claire, Meyer Caroline, Haycraft Emma
School of Health and Social Sciences, University of Bedfordshire, UK.
School of Life and Health and Sciences, Aston University, UK.
Matern Child Nutr. 2017 Apr;13(2). doi: 10.1111/mcn.12296. Epub 2016 Apr 8.
The aim of this study was to explore how the structure of mealtimes within the family setting is related to children's fussy eating behaviours. Seventy-five mothers of children aged between 2 and 4 years were observed during a typical mealtime at home. The mealtimes were coded to rate mealtime structure and environment as well as the child's eating behaviours (food refusal, difficulty to feed, eating speed, positive and negative vocalisations). Mealtime structure emerged as an important factor which significantly distinguished children with higher compared with lower levels of food fussiness. Children whose mothers ate with their child and ate the same food as their child were observed to refuse fewer foods and were easier to feed compared with children whose mothers did not. During mealtimes where no distractors were used (e.g. no TV, magazines or toys), or where children were allowed some input into food choice and portioning, children were also observed to demonstrate fewer fussy eating behaviours. Findings of this study suggest that it may be important for parents to strike a balance between structured mealtimes, where the family eats together and distractions are minimal, alongside allowing children some autonomy in terms of food choice and intake.
本研究的目的是探讨家庭环境中用餐时间的结构如何与儿童的挑食行为相关。在75名2至4岁儿童的母亲在家中进行典型用餐时对她们进行了观察。用餐时间被编码以评估用餐时间结构、环境以及儿童的进食行为（食物拒绝、喂食困难、进食速度、积极和消极发声）。用餐时间结构成为一个重要因素，它显著区分了挑食程度较高和较低的儿童。与母亲不与孩子一起吃饭且吃不同食物的孩子相比，母亲与孩子一起吃饭且吃相同食物的孩子被观察到拒绝的食物更少，也更容易喂食。在不使用干扰物的用餐时间（例如没有电视、杂志或玩具），或者孩子在食物选择和份量分配上有一定参与权的用餐时间，也观察到孩子表现出的挑食行为较少。本研究结果表明，父母在结构化用餐时间（家人一起吃饭且干扰最小）与允许孩子在食物选择和摄入量方面有一定自主权之间取得平衡可能很重要。
