INFLUENCE OF PARENTING STYLES ON VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION AMONG 5 - 10 YEARS - OLD CHILDREN

Despite their nutritional value, children often reject vegetables. Parenting styles may influence children’s dietary behavior. This study aims to assess the influence of parenting styles on the rejection and frequency of consumption of commonly consumed vegetables in today’s Algerian society. The survey involved 70 children aged 5 - 10 years and their mothers. A questionnaire collected data on vegetable rejection with a list of 18 vegetables. Two other questionnaires were used, the first to estimate the frequency of vegetable consumption among the children and the second to study parenting style. The results indicate that children enjoy most vegetables (73.68 %). Carrot and tomato are the most popular vegetables, while the most rejected vegetables are cardoon and onion. The least consumed vegetables are the most rejected. Moreover, it can be noted that children of authoritative parents consume more vegetables than those of authoritarian, indulgent and neglectful parents. Depending on the parenting style, some often rejected vegetables are appreciated. It appears that the high demandingness and sensitivity of the authoritative parents favor vegetable consumption. The level of demand and sensitivity of each parenting style may modulate the appreciation of vegetables.