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Ethnic Differences in the Home Food Environment and Parental Food Practices Among Families of Low-Income Hispanic and African-American Preschoolers

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Abstract

The family and home environment are important in shaping the dietary patterns of children, yet research among low-income, minority groups is limited. We examined ethnic differences in the home food environment and parental practices among 706 low-income, African-American and Hispanic families of preschoolers. Questionnaires measured the access and availability of various foods in the home, parental practices, and meal consumption behaviors. Mixed model logistic regression and ANCOVA were used to assess ethnic differences. Unhealthy foods were available for both groups. Hispanic families were more likely to have fresh vegetables (AOR = 2.9, P ≤ 0.001), fruit (AOR = 2.0, P = 0.004), and soda available (AOR = 1.40, P = 0.001) compared to African-Americans. African-Americans families were more likely to restrict (AOR = 0.63, P ≤ 0.001) and reward with dessert (AOR = 0.69, P ≤ 0.001). Hispanic families consumed more family meals together (P = 0.003) and less meals in front of the television (P ≤ 0.006). Health promotion interventions should consider the behavioral differences between ethnicities.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to recognize the authors and developers of the original Healthy Home Survey, Maria J. Bryant, Dianne Ward, Derek Hales, Amber Vaughn, Rachael Tabak, and June Stevens. This survey was modified for use in this study. We would also like to acknowledge the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, HCDE Head Start director Ms Venetia Peacock, HCDE Head Start Health Services Manager Ms. Gulshan Rahman and all HCDE Head Start Center managers and staff for their support. We would also like to acknowledge the data collectors and data entry staff who made this manuscript possible. This work was supported by funding from the Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, the University of Texas, School of Public Health; and the Pre-doctoral Fellowship, University of Texas School of Public Health Cancer Education and Career Development Program-National Cancer Institute/NIH [Grant #2 R25 CA57712]. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, 7000 Fannin Ste. 2510I, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Katherine Skala, Ru-Jye Chuang, Ann-Marie Hedberg & Shreela Sharma

  2. Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Katherine Skala, Ru-Jye Chuang, Alexandra Evans, Ann-Marie Hedberg & Shreela Sharma

  3. School of Public Health Austin Regional Campus, University of Texas Health Science Center, Austin, TX, USA

    Alexandra Evans

  4. USDA.ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Jayna Dave

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  1. Katherine Skala
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  2. Ru-Jye Chuang
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Correspondence to Katherine Skala.

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Skala, K., Chuang, RJ., Evans, A. et al. Ethnic Differences in the Home Food Environment and Parental Food Practices Among Families of Low-Income Hispanic and African-American Preschoolers. J Immigrant Minority Health 14, 1014–1022 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9575-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9575-9

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