Parental Cooking Confidence is Associated with Children’s Intake of Fish and Seafood

Abstract

Purpose: Fish and seafood consumption by North American children is low. This is concerning, given the critical role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid), found in fish and seafood, in early development. This study aimed to determine whether parental factors related to fish and seafood consumption are associated with frequency of fish and seafood consumption in Canadian children. Methods: A subgroup of parents (n = 28) participating in the Guelph Family Health Study Pilot reported their perceptions and history of fish and seafood consumption, confidence in preparing fish and seafood dishes, and the frequency of intake for their children (n = 40). Results: This study found that 20% of children consumed one serving of saltwater fish, freshwater fish, or shellfish weekly and 63% consumed at least one type of fish or seafood monthly. Parental cooking confidence preparing fish and seafood was positively associated with at least monthly fish and seafood intake in children. Conclusions: These findings suggest that some children may have low intakes of fish and seafood due to a lack of parental cooking confidence when preparing fish and seafood dishes. Therefore, future research and interventions focused on addressing this barrier may aid in improving fish and seafood intake.

Vegan Diets for Children: A Narrative Review of Position Papers Published by Relevant Associations

“…Indirect evidence from comparative studies exploring a variety of health effects of EPA and DHA in children and adults [129][130][131][132][133][134] suggests that lower EPA and DHA intake in VN children is not solely a matter of dietary choice. This notion is further supported by insights into the current low or inadequate consumption of fish and other marine sources among OM children [135][136][137][138] and broader considerations of environmental sustainability concerning fish and seafood intake to meet EPA and DHA recommendations [139]. These findings highlight that this issue extends beyond dietary choices.…”