Influence of parents on child eating practices in low SES communities: Identifying insights for health promotion campaigns

Epidemiological evidence suggests that a diet high in fruit and vegetables helps to promote health and to prevent chronic disease (Bofetta et al. 2010; Hung et al. 2004; Turrell, Stanley, de Looper and Oldenburg 2006). However, Australian data indicates that the consumption of fruit and vegetables is well below the recommended daily intake (Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS] 2009). Unfortunately, socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are particularly likely to have a diet characterised by low fruit and vegetable intake compared to their less disadvantaged counterparts (Ball, Crawford and Mishra 2006; Giskes et al. 2002). Thus, gaining a better understanding of the factors that intersect with an individuals’ ability to obtain a healthy diet, especially for the socioeconomically disadvantaged, is an important issue in health promotion research.