Eating-together mealtimes with African-American fathers and their toddlers

The prevalence of obesity is increasing at an alarming rate in African-American children. Fathers influence mealtime behaviors but are often overlooked in nutrition education. A sample of six African-American fathers of toddlers participated in a focus group to describe mealtime behaviors with their toddlers. The focus group was audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Five thematic categories were identified: mealtime rituals and routines, division of responsibility, family constellation, nutritional knowledge, and tension during mealtimes. Fathers expressed frustration with the toddler's picky-eater developmental stage. Fathers need to be included in nutrition education that promotes healthy mealtime habits with their toddlers. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.