The Effect of Mothers’ and Fathers’ Food Preferences on Children’s Preferences with Their Attitude

Aims: Early childhood is most crucial for establishing eating habits; therefore, controlling the preferences of young children is critical. This study investigated the relationship between mothers’ and fathers’ food preferences in their childhood and their children’s present food preferences.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study.

Methods: Questionnaires were provided to the parents of children in the age group of 3-5. The association between children’s preferences, their food concerns and mothers’ and fathers’ preferences during their childhood and the present was examined using a multiple logistic regression analysis. A questionnaire was given to the parents of 1,010 children aged between 3 and -5 years and who attended 5 private kindergartens and nursery facilities in Japan. The children’s preferences were significantly related to their mothers’ and fathers’ preferences during childhood, (but not current parental food preferences), as well as children’s enjoyment of school lunches and their consumption of traditional Japanese food.

Results: Primarily, the mother’s preferences during childhood were most intensively related to children’s preferences (4.21 [2.47-7.19], P<0.001: Odds Ratio [95% confidence intervals], probability). The children’s preferences were affected not only by mothers’ and fathers’ preferences during their childhood, which cannot be changed, but also by children’s enjoyment of their school lunches and their consumption of traditional Japanese food.

Conclusion: These acts can be modified and may have a key role of improving children’s food preferences.