This research aims to develop and study the efficacy of a web-based brief intervention, Smart Feeding4Kids, to promote healthy dietary patterns in young children (2 to 6 years old) through changes in parents' feeding practices. The intervention is grounded on self-regulation and habit-formation models and combines the use of several effective behavioral methodologies. The multidisciplinary team integrates experienced researchers on parenting interventions, child nutrition, and the development of online applications to support personalized nutritional assessment and psychological interventions. The monitoring of the use of the platform and the knowledge about the predictors of efficacy, adherence, and involvement obtained in this project will offer professionals essential information to the development of future online interventions. The project will also contribute with knowledge concerning the most effective methodologies for changing parental feeding practices and collects unique information about the eating habits and practices of parents of Portuguese children. The main hypotheses of the study: 1. parents who enrolled in behavior change and social support interventions will report significantly higher use of effective feeding practices (child's self-regulation intake practices, food availability, and accessibility practices) and significantly lower use of ineffective feeding practices (food control, restriction, and permissiveness feeding practices); 2. children whose parents enrolled in behavior change and social support interventions will have a significantly more frequent intake of vegetables and fruits intake, and significantly less frequent intake of sugar-sweetened foods and beverages; 3. positive changes in parental feeding practices will mediate children's food intake, with increased vegetables and fruits and decreased sugar-sweetened foods and beverages intake.
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Changes from baseline in the child's dietary intake reported by parents
Timeframe: Baseline, immediately after the intervention, 3 months after the intervention, 6 months after the intervention
Changes from baseline in parental feeding practices
Timeframe: Baseline, immediately after the intervention, 3 months after the intervention, 6 months after the intervention