From the pandemic to the pan: the impact of COVID-19 on parental inclusion of children in cooking activities: a cross-continental survey

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on time spent cooking and parental inclusion of children in cooking. The secondary aim was to investigate differences between those who frequently included their children in cooking activities during the COVID-19 pandemic and those who included their children less, on a number of factors such as working from home, parents' diet quality and cooking skills confidence. Design: Cross-continental survey with Wilcoxon-signed ranks, Independent t tests, Mann-Whitney U, chi(2) and a binomial logistic regression used for assessment. Setting: Online. Participants: A convenience sample of parents over 18 years from the island of Ireland (n 180), Great Britain (n 312), the USA (n 120) and New Zealand (n 166). Results: In three regions, parents' time spent cooking and inclusion of children in everyday cooking activities increased (P < 0 center dot 001). Country (OR = 3 center dot 6, 95 % CI 1 center dot 7, 7 center dot 6), education (OR = 1 center dot 6, 95 % CI 1 center dot 1, 2 center dot 4), cooking skills confidence (OR = 1 center dot 02, 95 % CI 1 center dot 009, 1 center dot 032) and a parental higher intake of vegetables (OR = 1 center dot 3, 95 % CI 1 center dot 1, 1 center dot 5) were significant predictors of a more frequent inclusion of children in cooking activities. Conclusions: While there a number of key benefits to including children in cooking for the children such as providing life skills and increases in diet quality, this study highlighted a higher intake of vegetables by parents who included children more frequently in cooking activities. With continued lockdowns due to COVID-19 and perhaps more flexibility in working from home in the future, including children in cooking activities should be a key public health message for both children and parents.

Automated summary

This study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on time spent cooking and parental inclusion of children in cooking activities. The findings show that in three regions, parents' time spent cooking and inclusion of children in everyday cooking activities increased. Country, education, cooking skills confidence, and a higher intake of vegetables by parents were significant predictors of more frequent inclusion of children in cooking activities.