Determinants of Youth Asking Parents for Fruits and Vegetables: Results from a Salient Belief Elicitation

BACKGROUND: Poor nutrition is recognized as a major contributing factor to overweight and obesity among adolescents. Fruit and vegetable (FV) availability is positively associated with increased FV consumption among youth. Although caregivers are responsible for providing FV, their communication process with children and the role children can play have been largely ignored. This study examines the factors associated with youth asking their parents to make FV available in the home. METHODS: Students from three rural middle schools (N=60) participated in semi-structured interviews as part of a salient belief elicitation based on the Reasoned Action Approach about the advantages, disadvantages, and what might make it easy and hard to ask their parents to make FV available. A content analysis identified the most frequently mentioned responses. RESULTS: Most (64.4%) youth have asked their parents to make FV available. While the most frequently mentioned advantage was “will make me healthier" (48.3%), youth also recognized a number of communication issues. Many said “parents would say no,” “parents would buy FV I do not like,” or “I want to eat other things.” Youth also stated that “asking at convenient times” such as while at the store would make it easier to ask their parents for FV. DISCUSSION: Youth are aware of the health benefits of eating FV and want to play a part in deciding what FV are available in the home. Future interventions should focus on the parent-child communication process, including children playing an active role in shopping and meal planning.