Prices, Family Interactions Influence Eating Behaviors
Many factors may
influence one’s eating behaviors and patterns. A recent study done by Iowa
State University researchers looked at how parents, peers, and prices affect
fruit and vegetable consumption of African-American youth. This study was
published in the Southern Economic
Journal. The researchers found that the parents who ate more fruits and
vegetables, also influenced their children to do the same. However, the study
found that youth were not influenced by their peers with regards to fruit and
vegetable intake. Not surprisingly, prices of the foods had a large impact on
consumption of fruits and vegetables. People are usually less likely to buy
fruits and vegetables if they are more costly than other items.
This study shows the importance of family meals and
parents setting a good example. Children and young adults are most likely to
eat what is available to them at home, therefore if their parents are eating
fruits and vegetables they are more likely to as well. It is important for
families to form good eating habits together. I have read other articles in the
past that stress the significance of sitting down as a family to eat dinner.
Even though this may be hard to do on a daily basis, I think this is something
that all parents should at attempt to do whenever possible.
This study aimed to better understand some of these
influential factors, because effective interventions are needed. One of the intervention strategies that was
mentioned was to develop programs that offer subsidies or coupons for produce.
This may be an effective policy tool, because it could help people be able to
afford fresh produce, thus increasing their fruit and vegetable intake. I think
this was a valuable study. Often times, clients or patients may know how to eat
healthy, but something is preventing them from doing so. It is important for us
to know what the barriers are that people are facing.
Link to article:
-AW
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