Home-delivered meal boxes in a family setting: a qualitative study investigating reasons for use and perceived impact on meal practices
Abstract Background Cooking and consuming a homemade meal is associated with health benefits. Home-delivered meal boxes can support families in cooking this fresh meal. The current study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the determinants of meal box use, and of the perceived impact on meal pra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Langue: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Collection: | BMC Public Health |
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| Accès en ligne: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17729-1 |
| _version_ | 1827328880974757888 |
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| author | Marjolijn Vos Benedicte Deforche Wendy Van Lippevelde |
| author_facet | Marjolijn Vos Benedicte Deforche Wendy Van Lippevelde |
| author_sort | Marjolijn Vos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Cooking and consuming a homemade meal is associated with health benefits. Home-delivered meal boxes can support families in cooking this fresh meal. The current study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the determinants of meal box use, and of the perceived impact on meal practices of parents with younger (i.e., aged 6–12 years) and older children (i.e., 13–18 years). Methods Four focus groups were conducted (n = 19); two with parents of younger children, and two with parents of older children. A semi-structured interview guide was developed and interviews were recorded and transcribed. Reflexive thematic analysis was performed using NVivo 1.4. Results Most parents mentioned practical reasons like saving time and money, as well as inspiration, as reasons to choose a home-delivered meal box. Also, tastiness and menu variation were often mentioned as determining factors by both parent groups. However, a few parents stated to stop using the meal boxes because of returning menus or too small portion sizes. Meal box providers were chosen based on the price, the freshness and the quality of the products. Moreover, positive effects on parents’ perceived cooking skills and knowledge were reported. Also, some parents mentioned positively changed attitudes towards vegetarian dishes. Lastly, parents reported healthier eating due to more appropriate portion sizes and more vegetables. A prominent difference between parent groups was that older children played a role in continuing the use of meal boxes, and helped to prepare the meals (contrary to younger children). Conclusions Home-delivered meal boxes might be promising to enhance families’ meal practices. This study could inform social marketeers and health promotors to adopt an optimal strategy to reach families. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:24:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-60961cef1be44dbbb1bf20ce2265f940 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:24:46Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-60961cef1be44dbbb1bf20ce2265f9402024-03-05T17:08:19ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-01-012411910.1186/s12889-024-17729-1Home-delivered meal boxes in a family setting: a qualitative study investigating reasons for use and perceived impact on meal practicesMarjolijn Vos0Benedicte Deforche1Wendy Van Lippevelde2Department of Marketing, Innovation and Organization, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent UniversityUnit Health Promotion, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent UniversityDepartment of Marketing, Innovation and Organization, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent UniversityAbstract Background Cooking and consuming a homemade meal is associated with health benefits. Home-delivered meal boxes can support families in cooking this fresh meal. The current study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the determinants of meal box use, and of the perceived impact on meal practices of parents with younger (i.e., aged 6–12 years) and older children (i.e., 13–18 years). Methods Four focus groups were conducted (n = 19); two with parents of younger children, and two with parents of older children. A semi-structured interview guide was developed and interviews were recorded and transcribed. Reflexive thematic analysis was performed using NVivo 1.4. Results Most parents mentioned practical reasons like saving time and money, as well as inspiration, as reasons to choose a home-delivered meal box. Also, tastiness and menu variation were often mentioned as determining factors by both parent groups. However, a few parents stated to stop using the meal boxes because of returning menus or too small portion sizes. Meal box providers were chosen based on the price, the freshness and the quality of the products. Moreover, positive effects on parents’ perceived cooking skills and knowledge were reported. Also, some parents mentioned positively changed attitudes towards vegetarian dishes. Lastly, parents reported healthier eating due to more appropriate portion sizes and more vegetables. A prominent difference between parent groups was that older children played a role in continuing the use of meal boxes, and helped to prepare the meals (contrary to younger children). Conclusions Home-delivered meal boxes might be promising to enhance families’ meal practices. This study could inform social marketeers and health promotors to adopt an optimal strategy to reach families.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17729-1FamilyChildrenHome-delivered meal boxMeal practiceDeterminants |
| spellingShingle | Marjolijn Vos Benedicte Deforche Wendy Van Lippevelde Home-delivered meal boxes in a family setting: a qualitative study investigating reasons for use and perceived impact on meal practices BMC Public Health Family Children Home-delivered meal box Meal practice Determinants |
| title | Home-delivered meal boxes in a family setting: a qualitative study investigating reasons for use and perceived impact on meal practices |
| title_full | Home-delivered meal boxes in a family setting: a qualitative study investigating reasons for use and perceived impact on meal practices |
| title_fullStr | Home-delivered meal boxes in a family setting: a qualitative study investigating reasons for use and perceived impact on meal practices |
| title_full_unstemmed | Home-delivered meal boxes in a family setting: a qualitative study investigating reasons for use and perceived impact on meal practices |
| title_short | Home-delivered meal boxes in a family setting: a qualitative study investigating reasons for use and perceived impact on meal practices |
| title_sort | home delivered meal boxes in a family setting a qualitative study investigating reasons for use and perceived impact on meal practices |
| topic | Family Children Home-delivered meal box Meal practice Determinants |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17729-1 |
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