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Nutrition Messages in Picture Book Fiction for 4 to 8 Year Old Children

This study conducted a content analysis to examine the types of food and nutrition messages communicated in fictional stories aimed at children 4 to 8 years of age. The foundation of healthy eating is established at a young age. Parents play an instrumental role in the process of home‐based nutrition education. Picture books are uniquely positioned to inform young children about food, nutrition and related behaviors because they can be read multiple times and at parents’ convenience. Some reports indicate that 80 to 87 percent of parents read to their young children three or more times a week. Evidence suggests that an adult‐guided exposure to a single book makes a significant short‐term impact on child's food intake. Thus, it can be hypothesized that an assortment of age‐appropriate, engaging books may have a profound, long‐lasting influence on a child's eating habits. While some studies have examined types and frequencies of foods depicted in children's books, a comprehensive overview of a variety of food and nutrition messages in children's literature is lacking. This study attempted to fill this gap in knowledge. The Children's Core Collection and other databases were searched independently by three research assistants for fictional picture books in which food and nutrition were the main focus of the storyline. The final sample included 270 books published between 2000 and 2015. Stories were systematically coded using holistic, provisional, data‐driven, and evaluation coding methods, as discussed in The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers (Saldana, 2013). The mixed‐method analysis revealed four major messaging themes: food (history, life cycle, production, purchase, preparation) that represented 40% of the sample; food and nutrition behaviors (food preferences, table/dining manners, lifestyle choices, weight management), 29%; values (social skills, individuality, diversity, family, religion, food‐related traditions), 22%; sensations and emotions (hunger, food fears, cravings, enjoyment, comfort), 8%. Additionally, the examined books varied substantially in terms of their educational merit. Messages ranged from straightforward and positive to subject to interpretation/misinterpretation to questionable and potentially counterproductive, as the latter featured poor behaviors and vocabulary that some adults may find not suitable for their children. In conclusion, while there is a great variety of fictional picture books to facilitate the development of healthy eating habits in young children, the quality of their messaging about food and nutrition varies widely. Parents and educators are advised to carefully select and preview children's books to ensure that the language and information communicated in those books are consistent with one's personal values and child's maturity level.