Involvement of Brazilian adolescents in home cooking: An exploratory analysis (EVA-JF Study).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of Brazilian adolescents in home cooking, estimating its associations with sex and socioeconomic status. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved a probabilistic sample of 14- to 19-y-olds enrolled in 29 public schools in the municipality of Juiz de Fora, MG, Southeast Brazil (n = 835). To assess involvement in home cooking, a 12-question questionnaire was used. The content was based on the Brazilian Food Guide, which encourages the acquisition, development, and sharing of culinary skills. Pearson's χ test and Poisson regression models were carried out, without and with adjustments. RESULTS: Most of the adolescents did not usually participate in meal planning (61%), and in the choice/purchase of food and culinary ingredients (67%). Boys were less likely to know how to cook "from scratch", positively self-evaluate their culinary skills, enjoy cooking, wish to learn more about cooking and meal preparation, and to participate frequently in the planning and preparation of meals. Belonging to a lower socioeconomic status represented a greater probability of preparing meals alone for the family. CONCLUSIONS: We verified an alarming prevalence of adolescents with behaviors unaligned with Brazilian Food Guide recommendations; that is, most of them, especially boys, were not involved in home cooking. Adolescence may present a window of opportunity for the development of culinary skills, resulting in long-term benefits for the population's diet quality. Furthermore, to change a historical pattern that overloads women's daily lives, it is necessary to encourage, from an early age, the presence of boys in the kitchen.

The (scarce and circumscribed) culinary content in food-based dietary guidelines around the world: 1991-2021.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the culinary content of key messages contained in food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) available at the global online repository of the FAO of the UN. DESIGN: Document analysis was conducted in August 2021 with data extraction of key messages explicitly related to cooking present in FBDG. Data were analysed inductively using thematic analysis. SETTING: The FAO's global repository of FBDG. PARTICIPANTS: Not applicable. RESULTS: Just over half (n 39; 53·4 %) of the seventy-three FBDG analysed included at least one key message about cooking. The Latin American and Caribbean FBDG presented the greatest amount and variety of content about cooking in the key messages, whereas the Near East and North America placed less emphasis on cooking. We identified three themes: (i) healthy food preparation (n 35; 61·4 % of the fifty-seven culinary key messages identified); (ii) food hygiene (n 14; 24·6 %) and (iii) the promotion of culinary practices (n 7; 12·3 %). Albania's key message covered two themes (food hygiene and healthy food preparation) (n 1; 1·8 %). CONCLUSION: FBDG are official documents that express recommendations for a healthy diet. As most of these recommendations throughout the world include foods that must be cooked prior to consumption, culinary content should gain more visibility and be presented more broadly in these official documents.

Greenhouse gas emissions, water footprint, and ecological footprint of food purchases according to their degree of processing in Brazilian metropolitan areas: a time-series study from 1987 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: The consumption of ultra-processed foods has increased worldwide and has been related to the occurrence of obesity and other non-communicable diseases. However, little is known about the environmental effects of ultra-processed foods. We aimed to assess the temporal trends in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), water footprint, and ecological footprint of food purchases in Brazilian metropolitan areas, and how these are affected by the amount of food processing. METHODS: In this time-series study, we used data from five Brazilian Household Budget Surveys (1987-88, 1995-96, 2002-03, 2008-09, 2017-18) to calculate GHGE, water footprint, and ecological footprint per 1000 kcal of food and beverages purchased. Food items were classified into NOVA food groups: unprocessed or minimally processed foods (G1); processed culinary ingredients (G2); processed foods (G3); and ultra-processed foods (G4). We calculated the proportion each NOVA food group contributes to daily kcal per person. Linear regression was performed to evaluate trends of the environmental impacts across the years. FINDINGS: Between 1987-88 and 2017-18, diet-related GHGE increased by 21% (from 1538·6 g CO2 equivalent [CO2e] per 1000 kcal [95% CI 1473·3-1604·0] to 1866·0 g CO2e per 1000 kcal [1788·0-1944·0]; ptrend<0·0001), diet-related water footprint increased by 22% (from 1447·2 L/1000 kcal [95% CI 1400·7-1493·8] to 1769·1 L/1000 kcal [1714·5-1823·7]; ptrend<0·0001), and diet-related ecological footprint increased by 17% (from 9·69 m2/1000 kcal [95% CI 9·33-10·05] to 11·36 m2/1000 kcal [10·91-11·81]; ptrend<0·0001). We found that the change in the environmental indicators over time varied between NOVA food groups. We did not find evidence of a change in the environmental indicators for G1 foods over time. GHGE from G2 foods decreased by 18% (ptrend<0·0001), whereas GHGE from G4 foods increased by 245% (ptrend<0·0001). The water footprint from G2 foods decreased by 17% (ptrend<0·0001) whereas the water footprint from G4 foods increased by 233% (ptrend<0·0001). The ecological footprint from G2 foods decreased by 13% (ptrend<0·0001), whereas the ecological footprint from G3 foods increased by 49% (ptrend<0·0001) and from G4 foods increased by 183% (ptrend<0·0001). We found no significant change in contribution by any other NOVA food groups to any of the three environmental indicators over the study period. INTERPRETATION: The environmental effects of the Brazilian diet have increased over the past three decades along with increased effects from ultra-processed foods. This means that dietary patterns in Brazil are becoming potentially more harmful to human and planetary health. Therefore, a shift in the current trend would be needed to enhance sustainable healthy food systems. FUNDING: Science and Technologies Facilities Council-Global Challenges Research Fund.

"Healthy", "usual" and "convenience" cooking practices patterns: How do they influence children's food consumption?

This study identified adults' cooking practices patterns and tested their associations with children's consumption of ultra-processed foods. Cross-sectional study conducted with 551 adult-child pairs from São Paulo, Brazil. Children's food consumption was collected through dietary recalls. Adults' cooking practices were identified using a questionnaire developed for the Brazilian's context. Principal Component Analysis has been employed to identify cooking patterns and linear regression models (crude and adjusted for sociodemographic variables) have been used to test associations between pattern's scores and contribution of ultra-processed foods to total energy at dinners. Three cooking patterns were identified: "Healthy", "Usual" and "Convenience". The first two patterns reflected behaviors of people who mostly cook "from scratch". Only the Healthy pattern (confidence to cook several meals using fresh foods and natural seasonings; healthier cooking techniques) was inversely associated with ultra-processed food consumption (ß = -4.1; p = 0.002), whereas the Convenience pattern (less frequency and time to cook, using microwave and ready-to-heat meals) was positively associated with (ß = 3.6; p = 0.008). Our results suggest that cooking at home, as an isolated action, is not enough to protect the consumption of ultra-processed foods. To promote healthy eating among children, the adults' cooking practices should be aligned with the preparation of meals made "from scratch", taking into account the healthiness of what is being cooked.

Impacts of home cooking methods and appliances on the GHG emissions of food.

Food is widely acknowledged as a major contributor to climate change but estimates of food-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions frequently consider supply chain stages only up to the farm gate or regional distribution centres. Here we estimate GHG emissions associated with different cooking methods and appliances in the UK. Data on current cooking practices were collected through a survey with more than 700 respondents. Our results reveal that home cooking accounts for as much as 61% of total emissions associated with specific foods, and that this can be substantially reduced through alternative, readily available cooking practices.

Parents' cooking skills confidence reduce children's consumption of ultra-processed foods.

Ultra-processed foods are industrial formulations requiring little if any preparation before consumption. Their consumption is increasing in many countries and one of the possible determinants is the decrease in home cooking. As parents are key for family meals, we analysed the influence of parents' cooking skills confidence on children's consumption of ultra-processed foods at dinner. This is a cross-sectional study with 657 child-parent pairs from nine private schools in São Paulo, Brazil. Food consumption data were collected using two children's dinner dietary recalls while the Cooking Skills Index was used to collect parents' cooking skills, measuring their confidence in their own skills related to cooking 'from scratch', according to the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population. Food items were classified according to the NOVA classification system, considering the nature, extension and purpose of food processing. We used linear regression models to test associations between parents' cooking skills confidence and the contribution of ultra-processed foods to total energy intake at dinner, adjusting for socio-demographic variables. Parents' mean age was 38.3 and children's mean age was 7.8. These parents were mostly women, white, married, employed, with full secondary education and per capita household incomes up to ~ USD 320.00/month. They reached an average of 78.8 points (SD 14.8) in the Cooking Skills Index. Children's mean energy intake at dinner was 672.2 kcal (31.3% from ultra-processed foods). The increase in parents' cooking skills confidence was directly associated with decrease in consumption of ultra-processed foods (ß = -0.17; p = 0.007), which remained after adjustment (ß = -0.15; p = 0.026). These findings suggest that parents' cooking skills confidence potentially protect their children against ultra-processed foods, indicating the need for revaluing cooking to promote healthy eating.

Cooking Skills Index: Development and reliability assessment / Índice de Habilidades Culinárias: desenvolvimento e avaliação de confiabilidade

Abstract Objective Describe the development and the reliability assessment of an index that evaluates the confidence in performing cooking skills considered relevant in Brazil. Methods The development of the Cooking Skills Index was based on the self-efficacy beliefs and its theoretical reference was the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population. It measures, from zero to 100, the degree of confidence in performing ten cooking skills considered as facilitators for the implementation of Brazilian Dietary Guidelines recommendations. Experts (face validity) evaluated the index. A pilot study (n=10) and a test-retest (n=51) was conducted by telephone interviews and computerized assistance with adults responsible for food preparation at home in São Paulo. Reliability was assessed by Cronbach's alpha, quadratic weighted kappa and prevalence and bias adjusted kappa. Results The Cooking Skills Index was coherent with the adopted theoretical framework according to the experts. It was fast and easy to apply to the participants. It showed a good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha >0.70) and an acceptable to excellent reproducibility (weighted kappa=0.55, adjusted kappa=0.89). Conclusion The Cooking Skills Index has a good reliability and is therefore recommended to evaluate cooking skills confidence in Brazilian studies developed in contexts similar to those of this study.

Resumo Objetivo Descrever o desenvolvimento de um instrumento que avalia a confiança no desempenho de habilidades culinárias consideradas relevantes no Brasil, e avaliar sua confiabilidade. Métodos O Índice de Habilidades Culinárias foi desenvolvido com base na crença de autoeficácia e tendo como referencial teórico o Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira. Ele mensura, com uma escala entre zero e 100, o grau de confiança das pessoas quanto ao desempenho de dez habilidades culinárias consideradas facilitadoras da implantação das recomendações do Guia Alimentar brasileiro. O índice passou por apreciação de especialistas (validade de face). E, após, por estudo piloto (n=10) e teste-reteste (n=51), conduzidos com aplicação das questões - via entrevistas telefônicas e com auxílio de sistema informatizado - a adultos responsáveis pela alimentação em casa residentes em São Paulo. Avaliou-se a confiabilidade pelo cálculo do alpha de Cronbach e do kappa ponderado quadrático e kappa ajustado para prevalência e viés. Resultados O Índice de Habilidades Culinárias foi considerado coerente com os referenciais adotados pelos especialistas, e de rápida e fácil aplicação pelos participantes; mostrou boa consistência interna (alpha de Cronbach >0,70) e reprodutibilidade aceitável a excelente (kappa ponderado 0,55; kappa ajustado 0,89). Conclusão O Índice de Habilidades Culinárias possui boa confiabilidade, podendo ser utilizado em estudos brasileiros que avaliem confiança no desempenho de habilidades culinárias em contextos similares ao deste estudo.

A influência das habilidades culinárias dos pais na alimentação de crianças em idade escolar / The influence of parents cooking skills on the diet of school-age children

Introdução Apesar da importância das habilidades culinárias para a alimentação saudável, estudos sobre este tema são escassos no Brasil. Objetivo Estudar a influência das habilidades culinárias dos pais (ou responsáveis) no consumo alimentar de crianças em idade escolar. Método Estudo epidemiológico observacional transversal seguido de estudo experimental, prospectivo, randomizado e controlado, envolvendo intervenção educativa para aperfeiçoamento das habilidades culinárias dos pais. A população do estudo observacional correspondeu a pares de pais-crianças em idade escolar de nove escolas da rede de ensino Sesi-SP, sendo cinco delas sorteadas como grupo-intervenção e quatro como grupo-controle. Como parte desta tese, desenvolveu-se e avaliou-se o Índice de Habilidades Culinárias - Brasil (IHC-Brasil), que mensura com uma escala entre zero e cem o grau de confiança das pessoas quanto ao desempenho de dez habilidades culinárias consideradas facilitadoras da implementação das recomendações do Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira. Nas nove escolas, 755 pais responderam por telefone o questionário do IHC-Brasil e questões sobre o consumo alimentar da criança no jantar do dia anterior à entrevista (recordatório alimentar). Todos os pais do grupo-intervenção que responderam o questionário (n=341) foram convidados a participar de curso de dez horas idealizado pela autora desta tese e ministrado por nutricionistas da rede Sesi- SP visando aperfeiçoamento de habilidades culinárias. Os pais que aceitaram participar (n=81) foram pareados a pais do grupo controle segundo variáveis sociodemograficas. Utilizou-se regressão linear para testar a associação transversal entre habilidades culinárias dos pais e participação de alimentos ultraprocessados no jantar da criança, ajustando-se para variáveis sociodemográficas. O impacto da intervenção educativa nas habilidades culinárias dos pais e na alimentação da criança foi avaliado por mudanças temporais intra e inter-grupos utilizando-se modelos de regressão linear brutos e ajustados. Resultados O IHC-Brasil apresentou alpha de Cronbach > 0,70, kappa ponderado de 0,55 e kappa ajustado de 0,89. No estudo transversal, a idade média dos pais foi de 38,3 anos e a dos filhos de 7,8 anos. Os pais eram majoritariamente mulheres, brancos, casados, com ensino superior, empregados e com renda familiar per capita de 1-3 salários mínimos/mês. A média do IHC-Brasil desses pais (78,8) foi relativamente elevada. A média de energia consumida pelas crianças no jantar foi de 672,2kcal, sendo 31,3 por cento de alimentos ultraprocessados. No estudo transversal, evidenciou-se diminuição significativa do percentual de participação de alimentos ultraprocessados no jantar das crianças com o aumento do IHC-Brasil (= -2,9; p= 0,014; ajustado= -2,6; p=0,035). No estudo prospectivo não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos intervenção e controle com relação à mudança nas habilidades culinárias dos pais e à mudança na contribuição de alimentos ultraprocessados no jantar das crianças. Conclusões O IHC-Brasil apresentou elevada consistência interna e alta reprodutibilidade, recomendando-se seu uso em estudos que avaliem habilidades culinárias no Brasil. Os achados do estudo transversal mostram associação significativa e inversa entre habilidade culinária dos pais e consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados pelos filhos, mas a intervenção educativa não resultou em aumento nas habilidades culinárias dos pais nem no padrão alimentar do jantar das crianças

Dietary guidelines to nourish humanity and the planet in the twenty-first century. A blueprint from Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To present and discuss the dietary guidelines issued by the Brazilian government in 2014. DESIGN: The present paper describes the aims of the guidelines, their shaping principles and the approach used in the development of recommendations. The main recommendations are outlined, their significance for the cultural, socio-economic and environmental aspects of sustainability is discussed, and their application to other countries is considered. SETTING: Brazil in the twenty-first century. SUBJECTS: All people in Brazil, now and in future. RESULTS: The food- and meal-based Brazilian Dietary Guidelines address dietary patterns as a whole and so are different from nutrient-based guidelines, even those with some recommendations on specific foods or food groups. The guidelines are based on explicit principles. They take mental and emotional well-being into account, as well as physical health and disease prevention. They identify diet as having cultural, socio-economic and environmental as well as biological and behavioural dimensions. They emphasize the benefits of dietary patterns based on a variety of natural or minimally processed foods, mostly plants, and freshly prepared meals eaten in company, for health, well-being and all relevant aspects of sustainability, as well as the multiple negative effects of ready-to-consume ultra-processed food and drink products. CONCLUSIONS: The guidelines' recommendations are designed to be sustainable personally, culturally, socially, economically and environmentally, and thus fit to face this century. They are for foods, meals and dietary patterns of types that are already established in Brazil, which can be adapted to suit the climate, terrain and customs of all countries.

Sodium content and labelling of processed and ultra-processed food products marketed in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the Na content and labelling of processed and ultra-processed food products marketed in Brazil. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: A large supermarket in Florianopolis, southern Brazil. SUBJECTS: Ingredient lists and Na information on nutrition labels of all processed and ultra-processed pre-prepared meals and prepared ingredients, used in lunch or dinner, available for sale in the supermarket. RESULTS: The study analysed 1416 products, distributed into seven groups and forty-one subgroups. Five products did not have Na information. Most products (58.8 %; 95 % CI 55.4, 62.2 %) had high Na content (>600 mg/100 g). In 78.0 % of the subgroups, variation in Na content was at least twofold between similar products with high and low Na levels, reaching 634-fold difference in the 'garnishes and others' subgroup. More than half of the products (52.0 %; 95 % CI 48.2, 55.6 %) had at least one Na-containing food additive. There was no relationship between the appearance of salt on the ingredients list (first to third position on the list) and a product's Na content (high, medium or low; P=0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Most food products had high Na content, with great variation between similar products, which presents new evidence for reformulation opportunities. There were inconsistencies in Na labelling, such as lack of nutritional information and incomplete ingredient descriptions. The position of salt on the ingredients list did not facilitate the identification of high-Na foods. We therefore recommend a reduction in Na in these products and a review of Brazilian legislation.