Many dads are seeking active roles in the delivery of healthy food to their children.
Role-modelling healthy choices from diet to exercise activity to children (from fathers) is often desired, however accessing appropriate resources can be problematic. Whilst the division of household labour remains persistently unequal across Australia, there remains opportunities to address the imbalance with targeted interventions to men.
In previous articles, we have discussed the evolution of cooking along masculine norms, and the way domestic food delivery has been challenged by celebrity male chefs (think Jamie Oliver among others).
With fathers wanting to be more involved with their children’s nutritional health- what ways can we help improve fathers’ dietary knowledge and remove existing barriers?
Fathers & food research study
Research published in the Journal of Pediatrics and Parenting has examined fathers’ barriers to participation in nutritional interventions for their children. For this review in Real Men’s Health, we will examine the strategies fathers spoke of which would improve engagement in food nutrition.
Father participants
A total of 25 fathers participated in this study.
- The mean age of fathers was 35 years.
- 76% worked full-time.
- 73% were married/de-facto relationship.
- Cultural group: 72% Australian, one father was from New Zealand and one father identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
- All children of the fathers were aged 6 months- 5 years of age.
Study results
The fathers identified 7 strategies which would improve their engagement on nutritional interventions with their children. All quotes are verbatim from the original research.
Strategy 1: Father-specific & child centred: fathers perceived that the majority of nutritional information was targeted towards mothers. Fathers recognised the opportunity in meal-preparation with their kids as a way to develop relationships and provide role-modelling. As one father noted,
“Dads lead by example [for their child], showing enthusiasm for healthy eating and trying new foods”
Strategy 2: Empowerment & collaboration: some fathers discussed the need to develop cooking communities for them to participate and share in. Discussions also led to conversations about goal setting and incentivising personal development,
“I’m always driven to be better than I was yesterday…I see cooking as my own development…In a digital environment, I would look for ways that show progress…like last 12 months, I’ve made x amount of meals, and gone from beginner to more advanced or experience more recipes or more ingredients in a way that I can sort of compete with myself and my peers.”
Strategy 3: Actionable & accessible strategies: The delivery of simple, bite-sized information on the ‘how’ and ‘what’ a child requires across different age groups was seen as essential,
“Showing dads how different foods can improve your kids in different ways, like your kids need to have this because it can help with bones or be more active like this. If they don’t have it, it may affect them like that.”
Strategy 4: Multi-format implementation: Technology support via apps, online cooking tutorials, emailed recipes and prompts were seen by fathers as helpful (and playful) supports in nutritional literacy,
“I see an app supported by a website, [which] give the same info, but the app would gamify it…This makes it fun, something my son and I can work towards together. He understands games and that keeps him engaged…[like] list of foods to try, get rewards when we try them.”
Strategy 5: Culturally appropriate: any food interventions would need to be mindful of cultural sensitivities and practices,
“Different cultures, food and family dynamics…It’s how you brought up [and] your key beliefs. My wife eats certain foods that I don’t eat because of our backgrounds, so my children get to choose what they eat. So saying this is what we’re going to eat and this is the recipe, cook on this day wouldn’t work for everyone. I’d have to consider different backgrounds and cultures”
Strategy 6: Tailored to child’s age: accessing food information relevant to a child’s development stage was voiced by several dads. Fathers wanted information relating to allergies, food safety and potential choking hazards. As one dad explained,
“I guess my vision is a database…of tips, hints, and advice of different stages of eating and what to do or try. Obviously different stages of age and life development they go through different eating habits…”
Strategy 7: Targeted promotion: Promotional avenues for marketing to dads were discussed, which included- hardware stores, sports venues, online platforms and community spaces.
Visual imagery and iconography pitched specifically at fathers would be well received in these participant dads opinion.
Study conclusion
The researchers concluded this study by noting that, ‘these findings underscore the importance of a systemic approach to dismantle gender stereotypes, provide feeding and psychosocial support, and strengthen father-child relationships to achieve positive outcomes for children’.
Expert Opinion: Mark Surdut, Senior Clinical Dietitian & Nutritionist, Owner of TheNutritionist (a Melbourne based nutrition clinic)
It’s perhaps no surprise that men are calling out for support and strategies in becoming better equipped to support their kid’s nutrition. Historically the role of nutrition provider has fallen on the lap of women. This is changing. Most dietitians and nutrition educators are women too (at least historically).
I was the only male in my post graduate dietetics class many years ago. I recall becoming somewhat blown away at that time about how much more the girls knew more than I did. That experience has remained with me and made me a passionate nutrition educator of men (and women too) and advocate for men’s health.
On the other hand, we have all noticed the number of male celebrity chefs (think Master Chef) taking the stage. But it’s true that many men find themselves less equipped than women in the game of nutrition.
My own kids have taught me that (me) modelling good nutrition habits and healthy choices and making tasty dishes will encourage some engagement and interest in them. This in turn leads to more diner table nutrition talk – what’s healthy? Why? What do we need more of, and what do we need less of (think the food pyramid).
I hope that more men choose a career in nutrition. Increased social media visibility of more male nutritional professionals will inspire more dads to explore their own health and food choices and in turn their kids will become more nutrition-inquisitive too.
