Parental perceptions and expectations of children’s snacking behaviors and snack packages

Purpose: Excessive snacking is a major factor affecting weight gain in children, while parental influence is significant in shaping children's snacking patterns.This study examined parents' perceptions and expectations about their children's snacking behaviors and snack packages.Methods: Data was collected through a combination of 4-day snack diaries and semi-structured interviews.Convenience sampling was used to recruit 30 mothers of children aged 6-12 years in South Korea.Mothers completed snack diaries in which they observed their children's snacking behaviors for four days.They then participated in semi-structured interviews to provide insights into the maternal perceptions and aspirations regarding snack packages and their children's snacking behaviors. Results:The results showed that children consumed confectionaries most frequently and tended to eat them alone at home.The specific ingredients (e.g., chocolate) and tastes (e.g., sweetness) were the most repeatedly mentioned reasons for consuming the target foods by children.Although the mothers in this study described natural or homemade foods as healthy snacks, approximately four-fifths of the snacks eaten by their children consisted of prepackaged snacks.Regarding the strategies used when serving snacks to children, the mothers relied mainly on the sizes and units of snack packages as guides for controlling the children's portion sizes and snacking frequency.In terms of their demands related to snack packages, the need for snack packages based on age-appropriate portions was apparent.Conclusion: Mothers and children need education and support to help them make informed choices regarding healthy snacks.Moreover, innovative package solutions may be beneficial in supporting the mothers' strategies to ensure their children's healthy snack consumption.