Mind that Gap! Exploring a family-based vegetable cooking programme for children and their parents by David Trill A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in the School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education David Trill, 2014 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. ii Supervisory Committee Mind that Gap! Exploring a family-based vegetable cooking programme for children and their parents by David Trill Supervisory Committee Dr. Patti-Jean Naylor, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education Supervisor Dr. Ryan Rhodes, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education Departmental Member iii Abstract Supervisory Committee Dr. Patti-Jean Naylor, Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education Supervisor Dr. Ryan Rhodes, Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education Departmental Member Increasing fruit and vegetable intake is important to obesity prevention but children’s vegetable intake remains low. This study aimed to enhance parent vegetable serving behaviour and child vegetable intake through an 8-week theory-based family cooking program. Sixty-five families with children aged 9-13 (11.1 ±1.4) were randomized into a home activity program or home activity plus cooking workshop program. There was no significant increase in parent vegetable serving habits or children’s intake. Both interventions enhanced feeding practices (F (1, 63) = 42.09, p=.000, ɳ2=0.40) and reduced perceived barriers (F (1, 63) = 13.01, p=.001, ɳ2=.017). Children in the cooking workshop condition liked vegetables more (F (1, 63) = 3.87, p=.050, ɳ2=0.06) and had greater diet-disease awareness (F (1, 63) = 3.97, p=.050, ɳ2=0.06) at follow-up (statistic). Family engagement in cooking was successful in enhancing some psychosocial measures for both children and parents, particularly for those receiving cooking workshops. A low sample size and sampling bias may have masked other findings. iv Table of Contents Supervisory Committee .................................................................................................................. ii Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... iix Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... x Dedication ...................................................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Hypothesis (HA) .......................................................................................................................... 5 Operational Definitions ............................................................................................................... 6 Delimitations ............................................................................................................................... 8 Limitations .................................................................................................................................. 8 Chapter 2: Review of Literature ............................................................................................... 10 I. Rationale for Prevention of Chronic Disease and Obesity .................................................... 10 Chronic disease and related risk factors are growing health concerns .................................. 10 Chronic disease, obesity and their relationship with dietary habits ...................................... 11 F&V intake in children is low ............................................................................................... 12 II. Correlates of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Children ............................................... 12 Exposure, neophobia and taste preferences ........................................................................... 13 Accessibility & Availability .................................................................................................. 13 Parental Correlates ................................................................................................................. 15 Theoretical constructs relating to fruit and vegetable consumption ...................................... 16 v III. School-Based Healthy Eating Interventions ....................................................................... 18 Rationale for school-based interventions .............................................................................. 18 School-based healthy eating intervention findings ................................................................ 19 The limitations of school-based approaches .......................................................................... 21 IV. Family Environments .......................................................................................................... 23 Rationale for family environments ........................................................................................ 23 Family-based healthy eating research.................................................................................... 25 Chapter 3: Methods .................................................................................................................... 29 Research Design ........................................................................................................................ 29 Participants ................................................................................................................................ 29 Recruitment ............................................................................................................................... 30 Allocation .................................................................................................................................. 31 Analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 31 Follow-Up ................................................................................................................................. 31 Enrollment ................................................................................................................................. 31 Procedures ................................................................................................................................. 32 Intervention ............................................................................................................................... 33 Data Collection and Instruments ............................................................................................... 36 Experimental Variables ............................................................................................................. 37 Parent Measures ........................................................................................................................ 37 Child Measures .......................................................................................................................... 41 Recipe Tracking Sheet .............................................................................................................. 42 Data Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 43 Chapter 4: Results....................................................................................................................... 44 Family Descriptives................................................................................................................... 44 Recipe Tracking ........................................................................................................................ 45 vi Parent Weekly Serving Habits .................................................................................................. 45 Parent Family Feeding Practices ............................................................................................... 46 Fruit and Vegetable Access and Availability - Parents ............................................................. 47 Parent Self Efficacy ................................................................................................................... 48 Parent Outcome Expectancies ................................................................................................... 49 Exposure, Food Neophobia and Taste Preference - Parent