Food-related Attitudes and Behaviors at Home, School, and Restaurants: Perspectives from Racially Diverse, Urban, Low-income 9- to 13-year-old Children in Minnesota

Abstract Objective This qualitative study explored low-income children's food-related attitudes and behaviors, and current weight status. Design Two researchers conducted 14 audiotaped, 60-minute focus groups. Height and weight were measured. Setting Libraries, homeless shelters, and a community center. Participants Ninety-two low-income children aged 9-13 years. Phenomenon of Interest How environmental, personal, and behavioral factors affect food choices and food-related behavior at home, in school, and at restaurants, and how these factors potentially influence weight status. Analysis Transcripts were coded, reconciled, and analyzed for themes and subthemes. Results At home, children's food choices were often unhealthful because of the types of food available, and some reported restricted eating styles and night eating. At school, children were largely dissatisfied with the quality of lunches provided, and some skipped the meal. Most children preferred buffets as their favorite type of restaurant, where they could eat unlimited quantities of their favorite food items. Over half of the children were overweight (19%) or obese (36%). Conclusions and Implications Future research may examine the prevalence of night eating, meal skipping, and other irregular eating behaviors among low-income children and their long-term relationship to weight status. Increasing parents' knowledge of these behaviors, while emphasizing the importance of family mealtimes, is encouraged.