Factors influencing the food choices of Irish children and adolescents : a qualitative investigation

Food choices established during childhood and adolescence tend to
persist into adulthood with consequences for long-term health. Yet, to
date, relatively little research has examined factors that influence the
food choices of children and adolescents from their perspectives. In
this article, previous research is extended by examining developmental
differences between children's and adolescents' perceptions of factors
influencing their food choices. Focus group discussions were conducted
with 29 young people from three age groups (9-10, 13-14 and 16-18
years). An inductive thematic analysis identified three key factors as
influencing food choices. These factors included intra-individual
factors: the link between food preferences and awareness of healthy
eating; intra-familial factors: the role of the home food environment;
and extra-familial factors: eating away from the home. Findings indicate
that there were developmental differences between children's and
adolescents' perceptions of factors influencing food choice. Among
adolescents, parental control began to diminish and adolescents
exercised increased autonomy over their food choices compared with
children. To develop effective nutrition interventions, it is important
to gather child and adolescent input regarding factors perceived as
influencing their food choices.