Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Conference 2026

Shaping the family home food environment: Associations between the availability of discretionary foods and parental and household factors (144973)

Kerry Ettridge 1 2 , Joanne Dono 1 3 , Caroline Miller 1 2
  1. Health Policy Centre, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  2. University of Adelaide's School of Public Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  3. School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia

Background:

Parents are often targeted by dietary interventions as the gatekeepers to the food supply within family households. This study examined parental and household factors associated with availability of discretionary products and fruit and vegetables in the home.

Method:

A national online panel sample (n=1,319) of Australian parents of children aged 5-18 years completed an online survey assessing: availability of discretionary food/drink products and fruit and vegetables (F&V) within households; food choice motivations when choosing grocery items; parental self-efficacy in provision of healthy food/diet; parental role modelling behaviours; and socio-demographic characteristics. Bivariate unadjusted associations were assessed using a series of logistic regressions.

Results:

Preliminary findings indicated that, in general, higher scores on Nutrition/Health and Naturalness motivations were associated with high availability of F&V and 100% fruit juice (unsweetened) within homes, and low availability of discretionary products, such as soft drinks and salty snacks. Conversely, higher scores on External Influence motivations (marketing and social influence) were associated with low availability of F&V, but high availability of discretionary products. Higher scores on Hedonic motivations (enjoyment, appetising) and Practical motivations (convenient, affordable, familiarity) were associated with high availability of both F&V and discretionary food/drink products.

Higher levels of parental education, parental self-efficacy and engagement in food-related positive role modelling was associated with high availability of F&V, and low availability of discretionary products. Having adolescents (12-18 years) in the household was associated with high availability of soft drinks, but not other products.

Conclusion

These preliminary findings suggest that foods available within family homes are associated with potentially modifiable parental factors, as well as structural factors in the broader food environment, including those that influence external, hedonic and practical motivations. Policy responses should incorporate both family level support with broader interventions to reduce barriers to making healthier food choices.