The document summarizes the results of questionnaires given to parents in 5 European countries about their influence on their children's eating habits. The questionnaires covered topics like how often parents discuss healthy eating, plan family meals, consider factors like cost and nutrition when shopping, and monitor their children's food intake and consumption of food groups. Charts show the responses from each country for each question, with differences seen between countries for many habits.

1. Parents’ Influence on
Children’s Eating Habits
Karnobat, Bulgaria
13-17 October, 2014
This publication [communication] reflects the
views only of the author,
and the Commission cannot be held
responsible for any use which may be made of
the information contained in there.

2. • Following slides shows the results of the
questionnaires concerning the parents’
influence on children’s eating habits.
• The parents of students from Belgium,
Bulgaria, Lithuania, Portugal and Turkey
between 10 -19 years were interviewed
• Diagrams are in a percentage form

3. Do you discuss the importance of
healthy eating with your children?
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Bulgaria Turkey Belgium Lithuania Portugal
yes
no

4. How often do you plan your family meals
and menu together with your children?
0
10
20
30
40
50
every day
usually
sometimes (for special
occasions and weekends)
never

5. What are the main factors that influence
your choice of certain products?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
likes and dislikes
cost
other people’s
recommendations
media
culture and meal patterns

6. Do you analyse the labels on different
products sold in supermarkets with your
children?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Bulgaria Turkey Belgium Lithuania Portugal
never
rarely
sometimes
often

7. Do you watch if your children eat food
from the main food groups?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Bulgaria Turkey Belgium Lithuania Portugal
yes, usually
yes, sometimes
no

8. How often does your family eat home-
made food?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Bulgaria Turkey Belgium Lithuania Portugal
always
usually
sometimes
rarely
never

9. Do you let your children add extra salt
to your food?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Bulgaria Turkey Belgium Lithuania Portugal
Yes
Yes, sometimes
No

10. Do your children eat breakfast at
home?

11. Where do your children have lunch?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Bulgaria Turkey Belgium Lithuania Portugal
at the school canteen
at school (food taken from home)
at home
at the street café
doesn‘t have lunch at all

12. How often do you and your children
eat fruit?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Bulgaria Turkey Belgium Lithuania Portugal
every day
3 days a week
never

13. How often do you and your children
eat vegetables?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
for all meals
for lunch
for dinner
for lunch and dinner
never

14. Do you give your children
confectionery every day?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Bulgaria Turkey Belgium Lithuania Portugal
never
sometimes
often
every day

15. How often do you have dinner
together with your children?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Bulgaria Turkey Belgium Lithuania Portugal
every day
usually
sometimes, mostly at
weekends
never

16. Do you force your children to eat more
even if they say they are full?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Bulgaria Turkey Belgium Lithuania Portugal
yes
yes, sometimes
no, never

17. How often do you prepare traditional
dishes at home?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
every day
quite often
sometimes, on special
occasions
never

18. Do you think your children eat healthy
at home?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Bulgaria Turkey Belgium Lithuania Portugal
yes
yes, but not always
no

19. Would you like to get more information
about teenagers’ healthy eating habits?
0
20
40
60
80
100
Bulgaria Turkey Belgium Lithuania Portugal
yes
no

20. How often does your family practice
sports?

21. How often does your family practice
sports?

22. What is the gender of your children?