Factors Affecting Selection of Restaurants by Anglo-and Mexican-American Families

Abstract

Parents' own food preferences and eating habits appear to influence children's dietary intake ( (1) Patterson T.L. Rupp J.W. Sallis J.F. Atkins C.J. Nader P.R. Aggregation of dietary calories, fats, and sodium in Mexican-American and Anglo faimlies. Am J Prev Med. 1988; 4: 75-82 PubMed Google Scholar , (2) Weidner G. Archer S. Healy B. Matarazzo J.D. Family consumption of low fat foods stated preference versus actual consumption. J Appl Soc Psychol. 1985; 15: 773-779 Crossref Scopus (29) Google Scholar , (3) Zive M.M. Frank-Spohrer G.C. Sallis J.F. McKenzie T.L. Elder J.P. Berry C.C. Broyles S.L. Nader P.R. Determinants of dietary intake in a sample of white and Mexican-American children. J Am Diet Assoc. 1998; 98: 1282-1289 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (45) Google Scholar ). More importantly, parents serve as “gate-keepers” who control their child's access to the quality and quantity of foods, and this is particularly true for young children. One of these gatekeeper functions is to select restaurants for family meals.