Boys' Healthy Packaged Food Choices

Abstract

Aligned with efforts by the World Health Organization to address children’s consumption habits and to prevent noncommunicable diseases, this study explores the influence of gender on children’s packaged food choices with a focus on the perspectives of boys. Twenty-seven boys and thirty-one girls (grades 1-6) participated in small focus groups. Boys were more likely to say nutrient data informed their healthy choices compared to girls. Boys also equated “meatiness” with health, in contrast to girls’ choice of vegetables. Both genders were positively persuaded by the term “organic.” Previous research documenting boys’ “less healthy” food choices may not be due to their lack of knowledge but due to gendered interpretations of healthy packaged food options.