Recipe Components and Parents’ Infant and Young Child Feeding Concerns: A Mixed-Methods Study of Recipe Posts Shared in Thai Facebook Groups for Parents

Abstract

Social media is increasingly becoming a significant source of information for parents, including about feeding young children. However, little attention has been given to the characteristics of recipes for infants and young children and how they interact with parental perceptions regarding food decisions shared by users on social media. Building on findings related to shared recipe components and parental food choices, between December 2019 and July 2020, this study retrospectively collected 80 shared recipes each from five Thai Facebook groups. This extraction created 379 shared recipes with 1751 peers’ commentaries on the shared recipes’ posts. The shared recipes were classified and components quantified across child age groups, then the textual contents around the reasons behind the food choices were described qualitatively. The results showed that there were differences in meal types, food ingredients, and seasoning used across child age groups. Further analysis found that food allergy awareness was one driving concern behind parental perceptions on food choices in children’s diets. These concerns resulted in delays in the introduction of animal-source foods. Moreover, peers’ commentaries on shared recipes offered a venue for exchanging experiences with food products. Because of the potential influence on parental beliefs and perceptions, further studies are required to understand the impact of existing online communities on actual feeding practices.

Facebook Feeds and Child Feeding: A Qualitative Study of Thai Mothers in Online Child Feeding Support Groups

“…As facilitated by these social media functions, common child feeding practices in social media may evolve into social norms [20]. In our previous studies, we found that there were commonly shared practices around feeding age-appropriate food and seasoning, and food allergy awareness, which was disseminated within Thai Facebook groups in children's diets [10,23]. In the interviews, some mothers explained why they had adopted them.…”

“…In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted during January 2021 and April 2021, using participants' preferred technology, mostly by voice call on the Line application. The interview guide (Appendix A) was constructed based on authors' previous studies [7,10,23]. All interviews were conducted in a private location where the conversation could not be seen or heard by others.…”

“…These works revealed that recipes were a common topic on these Facebook groups. A study that analyzed recipe posts shared in Facebook groups found that these disseminated food choices that were seen as appropriate [23]. For example, ideas around food allergy awareness resulted in animal-sourced foods being rarely used in shared recipes aimed at younger children.…”

Determinants of Complementary Feeding Indicators: A Secondary Analysis of Thailand Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey 2019

“…In Thailand, traditional weaning foods are rice and banana [ 22 ]. A study of modern feeding practices that analysed recipes shared on Thai online peer support groups revealed that animal-source foods were not commonly fed until children were aged eight months and older due to allergy concerns [ 23 ]. However, a recent literature review points to the role of delayed introduction of allergenic food in increasing the risk for allergy development [ 24 ].…”