Table 2.

Example parent questions

Item	Questions to ask	Example response
Dietary habit	How many servings of fruit and/or vegetables   does your child eat each day?	Aim for 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables   a day
	≥5	Keep trying new fruits and vegetables. Sometimes   you have to try 10 times for success!
	3–4	Let your child choose a new fruit or vegetable   each week.
	≤2	Canned and frozen fruits and vegetables are good   options when fresh isn’t available or costs too much.
Sedentary time	How many hours a day does your child sit in front   of the television, videos, DVDs or computer?	Set a ‘television allowance’ of at most 2 h each day
	0	Try to keep television out of your child’s bedroom.
	1–2	Try and limit eating in front of the television/DVD/   videos/computer…
	>2	When kids do watch television, make up   games for them to keep moving.
Readiness for  change	How do you feel about making some changes to   help your child eat healthy or be active?	[Use sensitive communication and motivational   interviewing to set goals based on answer.]
	□ I am not interested in making changes at this time.
	□ I am not ready to make changes yet, but want to talk more.
	□ I am ready to make some changes now and would like help.
	□ I am already helping my child eat healthy or be more   active and I don’t feel there is much more to do.

Adapted from ‘Starting the Conversation’ (developed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Department of Pediatrics).