Associations of parenting styles, parental feeding practices and child characteristics with young childrenʹs fruit and vegetable consumption

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of parent and child characteristics in explaining childrenʹs fruit and vegetable intakes. In 2008, parents of preschoolers (mean age 3.5 years) from 56 schools in Belgium-Flanders completed questionnaires including a parent and child fruit and vegetable food frequency questionnaire, general parenting styles (laxness, overreactivity and positive interactions), specific food parenting practices (child-centered and parent-centered feeding practices) and childrenʹs characteristics (childrenʹs shyness, emotionality, stubbornness, activity, sociability, and negative reactions to food). Multiple linear regression analyses (n = 755) indicated a significant positive association between childrenʹs fruit and vegetable intake and parentʹs intake and a negative association with childrenʹs negative reactions to food. No general parenting style dimension or child personality characteristic explained differences in childrenʹs fruit and vegetable intakes. Child-centered feeding practices were positively related to childrenʹs fruit and vegetable intakes, while parent-centered feeding practices were negatively related to childrenʹs vegetable intakes. In order to try to increase childrenʹs fruit and vegetable consumption, parents should be guided to improve their own diet and to use child-centered parenting practices and strategies known to decrease negative reactions to food.