Psychology: Research and Review
From: Mothers’ perceptions of their own diets and the diets of their children at 2–3 years of age
Perception of own diet as healthy (n = 197, 43%) | Perception of own diet as unhealthy (n = 267, 57%) | ||||
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Themes/examples of responses | n | % | Themes/examples of responses | n | % |
Quality “Because I don’t drink sodas or eat junk food” “I avoid unhealthy foods, I avoid oils” “I eat healthy things” “Because I try to eat little sugar and salt” “I don’t eat much fried food and I don’t mix carbohydrates” “I eat homemade food” | 135 | 70.7 | Quality “I eat a lot of bread” “I don’t like fruits and vegetables much” “I eat a lot of junk food” “Because I eat more junk food than healthy food” | 186 | 74.1 |
Variety “I eat everything” “I eat everything, I’m not picky” “Because I try to vary my diet” | 28 | 14.7 | Regularity or routine “I don’t eat lunch or breakfast” “I don’t have a fixed eating schedule, I don’t eat breakfast” “I eat few meals during the day” | 75 | 29.9 |
Regularity or routine “I am eating regularly” “I am eating all the time” “I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner” “I make lunch and dinner every day” | 17 | 8.9 | Quantity “I eat very little” “I eat way too much” “I don’t eat much…” | 20 | 08 |
Perceived health outcomes “Because I go to the doctor and I don’t have any problems” “I’m trying to lose weight” | 15 | 7.9 | Perceived health outcomes “After finding out I have cancer, I haven’t eaten properly” “I’m about 10 kg overweight” | 09 | 3.6 |
Does not know “I don’t know” “It’s healthy but I don’t know why” | 11 | 5.8 | Variety “Because I spend the day eating bread and coffee” “Because I’m not used to it and I don’t like some foods” “I only eat the basics: rice and beans” | 03 | 1.2 |
Quantity “I eat normally, I usually don’t eat much” “Because I eat a lot” “I don’t eat much” | 07 | 3.7 | Does not know “I don’t know” | 02 | 0.8 |