Fascinating Findings

  • Can involving children in food preparation help reduce picky eating?

    This study examined whether young children’s involvement in meal preparation, meal planning, and grocery shopping was associated with food fussiness and found that greater involvement, especially in meal preparation and grocery shopping, was linked to lower levels of picky eating behaviours. What We Did and Why We Did It We analyzed survey data from 62…

  • This study examined sugar intake among preschool-aged children and found that most children were consuming more free sugar than recommended, although sugar intake was not associated with measures of body weight or body composition. What We Did and Why We Did It We analyzed dietary data from 109 preschool-aged children (1.5 to 5 years old)…

  • This systematic review examined existing tools used to measure food literacy and nutrition literacy in children and adolescents and found that more research is needed to develop age-appropriate and reliable ways to assess these important skills. What We Did and Why We Did It We conducted a systematic review of existing tools that measure food…

  • How did COVID-19 change the way families manage food waste?

    This study examined how the COVID-19 pandemic affected household food waste behaviours and found that while total food waste stayed the same, families produced less avoidable food waste and changed how they planned, prepared, and used food at home. What We Did and Why We Did It We analyzed food waste data from 19 families…

  • This study examined polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake among preschool-aged children and found that many children were not consuming enough essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids needed for healthy growth and development. What We Did and Why We Did It We analyzed dietary data from 109 preschool-aged children (18 months to 5 years old) participating…

  • This study examined how often preschool-aged children consumed foods and beverages containing non-nutritive sweeteners and identified the common sources of these sweeteners in young children’s diets. What We Did and Why We Did It We analyzed dietary data from 112 preschool-aged children (1.5–5 years old) participating in the Guelph Family Health Study pilot studies. Parents…

  • This study compared parents’ awareness, knowledge, use, and opinions of the 2007 and 2019 Canada’s Food Guides to understand how families with young children perceive changes in healthy eating recommendations. What We Did and Why We Did It We conducted a study with 504 parents of young children (18 months to 5 years old) who…

  • This study examined how different levels of food processing were associated with measures of obesity among Canadian parents and preschool-aged children, highlighting the importance of family dietary patterns in supporting healthy growth. What We Did and Why We Did It We conducted a cross-sectional study with 365 parents and 267 preschool-aged children (1.5–5 years old)…

  • This study explored children’s understanding and perceptions of the 2019 Canada’s Food Guide and identified opportunities to improve children’s food knowledge, cooking skills, and healthy eating behaviours. What We Did and Why We Did It We conducted a qualitative study with 35 children aged 9–12 years from Southwestern Ontario. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with children…

  • This study explored the challenges parents face when preparing meals at home and the strategies they use to overcome barriers and support healthier family eating habits. What We Did and Why We Did It We conducted a qualitative study with 40 parents of children aged 2–12 years from Southwestern Ontario. Researchers collected data through eight…