Are the culinary skills of those in charge of preparing meals in the household associated with markers of food consumption in children aged 2 to 6 years?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12957/demetra.2025.79149Keywords:
Children's nutrition. Ultra-processed foods. Food consumption.Abstract
Objective: To investigate the culinary skills of those in charge of preparing meals in the household and their association with markers of food quality consumption by children aged 2 to 6 years. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted in Botucatu, SP, with students from public schools (n=115). A validated scale was applied to assess the interviewee's confidence in their culinary skills, generating an index ranging from 0 to 100 points. Markers of the child's food consumption were investigated and grouped to create a score for healthy consumption (fruits, vegetables, beans) and unhealthy consumption (sweetened beverages, sweets/treats, instant noodles, processed meats). The associations were investigated by linear regression and Poisson regression. Results: The mean culinary skills score of the person in charge of preparing the food was 80.11. Regarding the healthy consumption score, the mean was 13.50 and the mean unhealthy food consumption score was 10.35. Each additional point in the culinary skill score reduced the unhealthy consumption score by an average of 0.28 points. There was no association between the culinary skill score and the markers of healthy consumption. By multiple Poisson regression analysis, children whose guardians were in the lowest tertile of the culinary skill score were more likely to consume instant noodles four or more times per week (PR = 3.56; 95% CI = 1.01-12.50), compared to those with less frequent consumption. Conclusions: Children whose guardians were less confident in their culinary skills revealed a higher unhealthy food consumption score and were more likely to consume more frequently a food that is a marker of unhealthy food consumption such as instant noodles.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Talita Miranda Torres, Michelly Alves da Silva, Hélio Rubens de Carvalho Nunes , Maria Antonieta Barros Leite Carvalhaes
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