An Exploration of Dietary Practices of Young Children: A Qualitative Study with Mothers Living in a Large Metropolitan City

Abstract

Introduction Dietary practices in early childhood set the stage for lifelong food choices. The advent of ultra-processed foods has been linked to poor diet and poor outcomes. This study was carried out to explore the dietary practices of young children through the voices of their mothers. Methods This exploratory pilot qualitative study carried out one-to-one in-depth interviews with seven mothers of children between three and ten years living in an urban area of Nepal to determine the dietary habits, psychosociocultural factors and environmental factors behind such practices. Results Mothers were generally aware of good dietary practices. Rice was the staple grain and other grains, although consumed, were viewed more as an occasional food item or afternoon snack. Although diversity was recognized in the fruits and vegetables, diversity in grain was not focused by all mothers. Early initiation of all the various foods was a factor that led to acceptance. Schools had a great role in influencing practice but not all schools put to practice what they had taught. Social norms and influence of other family members often went against mothers’ wishes or expectations to avoid ultra-processed foods. Market forces and the nature of packaged foods attracted children uncontrollably and the ubiquity of ultra-processed foods was viewed as a problem. Conclusion Mothers are generally ensuring the right dietary practices for their children and take steps to ensure diversity, but social norms and cultures, the market forces often come as an obstacle to avoiding the onslaught of ultra-processed foods.