An Exploration of How Family Dinners Are Served and How Service Style Is Associated With Dietary and Weight Outcomes in Children

Abstract

Objective To explore how families serve meals and how different service styles are associated with responsive feeding and child dietary and weight outcomes. Methods Baseline data from a subset (n = 75) of randomized controlled trial participants (Healthy Home Offerings via the Mealtime Environment (HOME) Plus study, aged 8–12 years) were analyzed using a series of linear regression models. Adjusted means (95% confidence intervals) and beta coefficients (SEs) are presented. Results Families were most likely to report plated meal service (36% of families), followed by family-style (29%). Family-style was significantly associated with a lower mean level of food restriction (P =.01). No significant associations were observed between style of meal service and child outcomes (all P >.05). Conclusions and Implications Although plated meal service may seem like a desirable strategy for ensuring that children eat a healthier diet, the current results did not provide support for this association. Evidence was found to support the use of family-style meal service to promote the use of responsive feeding.