PD561 - MATERNAL COOKING SKILLS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CHILDREN'S DIET QUALITY

PD561

MATERNAL COOKING SKILLS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CHILDREN'S DIET QUALITY

B. Dündar ¹, M. S. Karaçil Ermumcu², A. Alpaslan ¹, K. Tel Adıgüzel³, N. S. Kürklü^1,*

¹Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, ²Faculty of Health Science, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Akdeniz Univesity , Antalya, ³Health Sciences Faculty, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Health Sciences Turkey, Ankara, Türkiye

Rationale: Childhood obesity is a complex public health problem influenced by family environment and parental behaviors. Maternal cooking and food preparation skills, together with nutrition literacy, may play an important role in shaping children's dietary habits and overall diet quality. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between maternal cooking skills and diet quality in children.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 347 children aged 6–10 years and their mothers recruited from primary schools representing different socioeconomic backgrounds in Antalya, Türkiye. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, dietary intake (24-hour recall), physical activity, and Mediterranean diet adherence (KIDMED) were collected. Maternal cooking and food preparation skills and digital nutrition literacy were assessed using validated scales. Anthropometric measurements were obtained, and BMI and body composition indices were calculated. Correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate associations.

Results: Maternal cooking and food preparation skills were positively correlated with children's Mediterranean diet adherence (KIDMED) (r=0.184, p<0.05). Cooking skills were also positively associated with maternal digital nutrition literacy (r=0.135, p<0.05). No significant associations were observed between maternal cooking skills and children’s anthropometric measures.

Conclusion: Maternal cooking skills are positively associated with children's diet quality. These findings suggest that improving parental food preparation skills and nutrition literacy may support the development of healthier dietary patterns in children, with digital nutrition literacy potentially contributing through behavioral pathways.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared