Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.17508/CJFST.2018.10.1.15
Parental adherence to Mediterranean diet is associated with their adolescents´ cereals intake
GRETA KREŠIĆ
orcid.org/0000-0002-3432-2687
; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Health Studies, Viktora Cara Emina 5, Rijeka, Croatia
GORDANA KENĐEL JOVANOVIĆ
; Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorsko-Goranska County, Department of Health Ecology, Krešimirova 52a, Rijeka, Croatia
SANDRA PAVIČIĆ ŽEŽELJ
; Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorsko-Goranska County, Department of Health Ecology, Krešimirova 52a, Rijeka, Croatia
JELKA PLEADIN
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Laboratory for Analytical Chemistry, Savska cesta 143, Zagreb, Croatia
NIKOLINA LIOVIĆ
; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Department of Food and Nutrition, Primorska 42, Opatija, Croatia
KATARINA PLEPEL
; 4** student, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Health Studies, Viktora Cara Emina 5, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
The Mediterranean diet (MD), abundant in whole grains, is known to be
one of the healthiest dietary patterns. Given the health benefits of whole
grain cereals as a rich source of nutrients and phytochemicals, this study
examined parental adherence to MD and its association with their
adolescents’ cereals intake, in 203 parent-adolescent dyads. Adherence to
MD was evaluated using the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for
adolescents (13.5±1.2y) and the Short Mediterranean Diet Questionnaire
for parents (41.53±5.99y). Although the level of the parents’ adherence to
MD did not significantly influence the adolescents´ weekly consumption
frequency of pasta and rice, adolescents whose parents had higher
adherence to MD (44.3%) more often ate cereals or grains for breakfast
(p=0.045) and less frequently, commercially baked goods or pastries
(p=0.043). Adolescents of parents who had lower adherence to MD
(55.7%) stated that they would eat more whole grain bakery products
(p=0.049) and more breakfast cereals (p=0.039) if those foods were more
often available at home. Adolescents with parents who had higher
adherence to MD stated that they were more often encouraged by their
parents to eat whole grain bakery products (p=0.030), compared with their
counterparts whose parents had lower adherence to MD. With this study,
we revealed that food environment and parental eating behaviour are
notable factors that influence adolescents’ dietary intake. Disease
prevention health programs should focus more strongly on encouraging
parents to adopt MD features in their family food environment.
Keywords
adolescents; cereals; home environment; Mediterranean diet; parents
Hrčak ID:
200555
URI
Publication date:
25.5.2018.
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