Table 2 Frequency of feeding behaviors of Latina and African American mothers of preschoolers during mealtime observations

Frequency of Influence Attempts

99

34.2

29.6

0-132

Encourage Eating

99

.42

.19

0-.90

Eat All

44

.03

.05

0-.21

Eat Different Food

45

.06

.11

0-.58

Discourage Eating

78

.09

.11

0-.67

Table Manners

76

.12

.11

0-.35

Eating Skills

60

.09

.12

0-.54

Internal Cues Encourage Eating

13

.01

.02

0-.13

Internal Cues Discourage Eating

18

.01

.02

0-.13

Other Food

70

.10

.11

0-.50

Non-Food

53

.07

.14

0-1.00

Hint/Acknowledge

62

.05

.06

0-.28

Enthusiastic Modeling

36

.02

.03

0-.15

Question/Suggest

95

.25

.16

0-.71

Praise

27

.01

.04

0-.27

Reason/Instruct

65

.07

.09

0-.50

Unelaborated Commands

99

.54

.18

0-1.00

Verbal Pressure

44

.02

.03

0-.14

Discourage/Scold

14

.01

.02

0-.14

Food Rewards

12

.004

.01

0-.09

Food Punishments

9

.003

.01

0-.07

Non-Food Rewards

6

.001

.01

0-.04

Non-Food Punishments

22

.01

.03

0-.18

Moves Self Closer

44

.04

.07

0-.37

Moves Something Closer

49

.04

.06

0-.33

Points/Motions

76

.11

.12

0-.75

Helps

45

.03

.05

0-.19

Spoon Feeds

22

.02

.05

0-.32

Physically Forces

37

.02

.04

0-.19

Frequency of Non-Influence Attempts

96

13.1

16.1

0-81

Food Characteristics

46

.09

.12

0-.50

Other Food Content

64

.34

.31

0-1.00

References to Child

80

.32

.29

0-1.00

References to Mother

28

.03

.07

0-.50

References to Other People

32

.05

.10

0-.50

Non-Food References

32

.06

.13

0-.88

Clarification

54

.11

.18

0-1.00