Research Brief Involvement in Meal Preparation at Home Is Associated With Better Diet Quality Among Canadian Children

Objective: To examine the associations between home meal preparation involvement with diet quality and food group intake among children. Methods: Grade 5 children aged 10–11 years (n ¼ 3,398) were surveyed. Food intake was measured using the Harvard Youth/Adolescent Food Frequency Questionnaire, and diet quality was measured using the Diet Quality Index–International. Random effects regression models with children nested within schools were used to test for associations. Results: Higher frequency of involvement in home meal preparation was associated with higher Diet Quality Index–International scores. Children who were involved in meal preparation daily ate 1 more serving/d of vegetables and fruit compared with children who never helped (P < .001). Similar significant differences, although small, were observed for intake of the other food groups. Conclusions and Implications: Children who were more involved in home meal preparation also consumed healthier diets. Encouraging parents to involve their children in meal preparation could be a viable health promotion strategy.