Low adherence to traditional dietary pattern and food preferences of low-income preschool children with food neophobia

Objective: To associate dietary patterns and food neophobia in low-income preschoolers. Design: This was a cross-sectional study using a semi-structured questionnaire for socio-demographic data, birth conditions and breast-feeding history. Food neophobia was assessed using an adapted version of the Child Food Neophobia Scale. Children's nutritional status was assessed using BMI-for-age and heightfor-age Z-scores. Dietary patterns were estimated using a semi-quantitative FFQ through exploratory factor analysis. Multiple linear regression was used to test for an association between food neophobia and dietary pattern adherence. Setting: Philanthropic childhood education schools in Aracaju, an urban community in northeastern Brazil, between July and December 2017. Participants: Two hundred fourteen children aged 3-6 years and their parents. Results: The percentages of low/medium and high food neophobia among preschoolers were 85.9 % and 11.2 %, respectively. Children with high food neophobia more frequently consumed ultra-processed foods rich in sugars (snacks, filled and unfilled cookies and sweets), as well as protein-rich foods (white meat, cheese and yogurt). Three dietary patterns were identified (traditional, snacks and school snacks). Children with a high level of neophobia had lower adherence to traditional dietary patterns. Conclusions: A high level of food neophobia among socially vulnerable preschoolers is an eating behaviour related to unhealthy eating and is associated with the poorest diet in typical foods.