Parents’ perceived challenges and best practices in encountering food neophobia among preschool children

Abstract

Introduction: Three objectives of this study were (1) to determine the prevalence of FN; (2) to determine the parents' perceived challenges in having food neophobic children (FN); and (3) to determine the parents' perceived best practices for food neophilic children (FA). Methods: This study adopted a mixed-method approach with a survey questionnaire among 126 parents of 4 to 6 years-old children; and purposive phone interviews to the 6 selected participants. The questionnaire consists of two sections, quantitative and qualitative which are comprised of demographic information, children’s height and weight, Food Neophobia Scales (FNS), and an open-ended questionnaire on parents’ challenges and best practices in FN. Results: The quantitative results reported prevalence of FN was 38.1% in which higher in 5 years, girls and normal-weight children. Qualitative analysis of open-ended questionnaire and interviews outlined three major challenges in FN and three major best practices in FA. Among the reported challenges of FN parents were related to problematic feeding behavior and preferences (37.3%); negative beliefs and perception about new foods (34.5%); and lack of practical skills, ideas and meal strategies (28.2%). Food skills activities with children (38.4%), role modelling (15.8%), and creativity in food design (13.5%) were the best practices reported by FA parents. Conclusion: These results suggest parents require greater knowledge and skills on how to improve children’s eating behaviors. Feeding interventions such as food skills education should focus on providing parents, teachers and health practitioners with practical, emotional, and informational feeding supports to manage FN.