Table 4:
Family Meal Characteristics and Parent Feeding Practices by Household Food Security Status
| EMA Question Asked: | Food Secure Families (3,143 meals) | Food Insecure Families (713 meals) |
|---|---|---|
| Who prepared the meal? | ||
| Parent | 1,696 (54%) | 429 (60%) |
| A cook outside home (e.g. restaurant, another adult) | 845 (27%) | 175 (25%) |
| Child participant + parent/partner | 602 (19%) | 109 (15%) |
| How was the meal prepared? | ||
| Only homemade | 1,636 (52%) | 319 (45%) |
| Only pre-prepared | 882 (28%) | 272 (38%) |
| Only fast-food | 352 (11%) | 88 (12%) |
| Combination of homemade, pre-pared, fast-food | 272 (9%) | 34 (5%) |
| What influenced the person’s decision to serve the food at the meal? | ||
| Child / family likes | 657 (21%) | 151 (21%) |
| Child asked for a specific food or meal | 414 (13%) | 96 (13%) |
| Desire to avoid conflict with child or a family tight | 86 (3%) | 24 (3%) |
| Healthy option | 455 (14%) | 59 (8%) |
| Planned meal | 397 (13%) | 80 (11%) |
| Using food available in the home | 468 (15%) | 107 (15%) |
| Quick and easy to make | 351 (11%) | 109 (15%) |
| Other | 315 (10%) | 87 (12%) |
| How many children were present? | ||
| Child participant | 364 (12%) | 124 (17%) |
| Two children | 1,124 (36%) | 267 (37%) |
| Three children or more | 1,655 (53%) | 322 (45%) |
| Who were these children? | ||
| Child participant | 361 (12%) | 124 (17%) |
| Child participant + siblings(s) | 2,336 (74%) | 479 (67%) |
| Child participant + siblings(s)+ others | 443 (14%) | 110 (15%) |
| Note: Others include extended family members or non-family members | ||
| How many adults were present? | ||
| Parent participant only | 1,490 (47%) | 423 (59%) |
| Parent participant + another adult(s) | 1,653 (53%) | 290 (41%) |
| Who were these adults? | ||
| Parent/primary caregiver only | 1,483 (47%) | 422 (59%) |
| Parent + other family member(s ) | 1,535 (49%) | 256 (36%) |
| Parent + other family member + non-family member | 119 (4%) | 34 (5%) |
| Note: Others include second caregiver and grandparents | ||
| Where did the meal take place? | ||
| Around the table | 2.217 (71%) | 430 (60%) |
| On couch/chair in living area | 405 (13%) | 161 (23%) |
| Scattered throughout house or standing-up | 227 (7%) | 66 (9%) |
| Outside house (e.g. in the car, at a restaurant, other ) | 293 (9%) | 56 (8%) |
| Note: Other includes at a park, school’s picnic table/event, neighbor’s home, relative’s home, friend’s home. | ||
| What was happening during the meal or snack? | ||
| Conversation only | 1,653 (53%) | 297 (42%) |
| Screentime activities only | 500 (16%) | 209 (29%) |
| Screentime + conversation | 567 (18%) | 137 (19%) |
| Conversation + other | 73 (2%) | 10 (1%) |
| No conversation + other | 350 (11%) | 60 (8%) |
| Note: Screentime activities include listening to headphones; playing videogames; watching TV and/or TV in background; using cell phone, computer, or tablet. | ||
| What was the atmosphere like? | ||
| Relaxed | 864 (27%) | 247 (35%) |
| Enjoyable | 1,424 (45%) | 303 (43%) |
| Neutral | 579 (18%) | 97 (14%) |
| Rushed | 156 (5%) | 19 (3%) |
| Chaotic | 65 (2%) | 34 (5%) |
| Tense | 55 (2%) | 13 (2%) |
| What foods were served? | ||
| Whole Grains | 1,124 (36%) | 243 (34%) |
| Refined Grains | 977 (31%) | 207 (29%) |
| Dairy | 1,404 (45%) | 317 (44%) |
| Fruit and Vegetables | 1,971 (63%) | 369 (52%) |
| Meat, Beans, and Nuts | 1,503 (48%) | 353 (50%) |
| Added Sugar (e.g., sugary drinks, cake, candy) | 644 (20%) | 196 (27%) |
| Did you have to encourage [child] to eat more at this meal? | ||
| No | 2,719 (87%) | 573 (80%) |
| Yes | 424 (13%) | 140 (20%) |
| Did you have to make sure [child] didn’t eat too much food at this meal? | ||
| No | 2,758 (88%) | 607 (85%) |
| Yes | 385 (12%) | 106 (15%) |
| Did [child] refuse any of the food you offered him/her? | ||
| No | 2,872 (91%) | 632 (89%) |
| Yes | 271 (9%) | 81 (11%) |