Food insecurity during COVID-19 and parental food choices: a pilot study

Purpose: To describe parental determinants of food choice according to the household's food security status. Methods: This pilot study was conducted in São Paulo (Brazil), over March-May 2022. Telephone interviews were conducted with 44 parents to assess determinants of food choice, perception of control over their child's health, household socioeconomic factors, and household food security. Results: Most of the households (70%) experienced food insecurity. Among food-insecure households, the determinants with the highest average score (descending order) were “Health”, “Sensory Appeal”, and “Price”. In food-secure households, the highest-scoring determinants were “Sensory Appeal”, “Health”, and “Natural Content”. The "Familiarity" and "Ethical Concern" had the lowest mean scores for both groups. Conclusion: Regardless of food-security status, parents prioritized health and sensory attributes in the foods they provide to their child. The identification of parental food choices can assist in building public policies and creating short and sustainable food systems.