Maternal feeding practices associated with food neophobia

The current study examined the associations between children’s and mother’s food neophobia and parental feeding practices. Eighty-five mothers of 3- to 12-year old children (M = 5.7 years; 52% girls) completed a questionnaire online about food neophobia and feeding practices. Mothers with children high in food neophobia used more restriction for health and less monitoring. Mothers with food neophobic children and mothers who were themselves food neophobic also reported that they do not make healthy foods readily available for their children. Mothers high in food neophobia also used more restriction for weight. This study is a starting point for understanding the link between neophobia and feeding practices, but future longitudinal work is needed in order to determine direction of effects. However, interventions could be created to help parents understand the importance of feeding practices for promoting children’s food acceptance.

• Mothers used more restriction and less monitoring with food neophobic children. • Mothers reported not providing healthy food environments for food neophobic children. • Mothers high in food neophobia reported using more restriction for weight. • Mothers’ food neophobia was not associated with children’s food neophobia.