This study explored parents’ knowledge of the 2019 Canada’s Food Guide recommendations and found that while most parents understood the general messages, many were less familiar with specific details such as the food groups and foods containing unhealthy fats. What We Did and Why We Did It Researchers from the Guelph Family Health Study surveyed…

This study examined how different levels of food processing are associated with sugar intake among preschool-aged children and their parents, finding that ultra-processed foods were a major contributor to free sugar intake in both groups. What We Did and Why We Did It Researchers from the Guelph Family Health Study analyzed dietary data from 242…

The Weeknight Supper Savers program helped families build food preparation skills, increase confidence in reducing food waste, and explore strategies to make better use of food at home. What We Did and Why We Did It We tested a 4-week family-based program called Weeknight Supper Savers with 19 families in Guelph, Ontario, who had children…

The Family Stress Study is a two-year study exploring how chronic stress, biological responses, and health behaviours may contribute to weight gain and obesity risk among young children. What We Did and Why We Did It We followed 359 families from Guelph and Hamilton, Ontario, with children aged 2–6 years over two years. Families completed…

This study explores how sugar intake impacts the growth of young children. What We Did and Why We Did It We followed 109 young children participating in the Guelph Family Health Study over 18 months to examine whether their intake of total, free, and added sugars was associated with changes in body weight, body mass…

This study explores how stress impacts young children What We Did and Why We Did It Researchers launched the Family Stress Study, a two-year study following 359 Canadian families with children aged 2–6 years. Families completed surveys about stress, health, and daily habits, while researchers collected information on children’s growth, sleep, physical activity, diet, and…

This study explores the effect of parents social media usage around meal time on food parenting practices. What We Did and Why We Did It We studied 295 parents (179 mothers and 116 fathers) with children aged 3–8 years from the Guelph Family Health Study. Parents completed surveys about how they use social media for…

This study explores the physical activity, sleep, and screen time habits of young children. What We Did and Why We Did It Researchers looked at the physical activity, sleep, and screen time habits of 320 children (18 months to under 6 years old) in the Guelph Family Health Study. They measured physical activity using activity…

This study explores if “Supper Heroes,” a nutrition based program, might encourage more plant-based eating. What We Did and Why We Did It Researchers created Supper Heroes, a 4-month family program designed to help families with children aged 9–14 reduce food waste and eat more plant-based protein foods. The online program included seven interactive “missions”…

Calcium and vitamin D are important nutrients for growing children, but which foods are actually providing them? What We Did and Why We Did It Researchers from the Guelph Family Health Study examined the diets of young children to find out where these important nutrients are coming from. Calcium and vitamin D are essential for…