Stressed parents rely on junk food for kids

Stressed-out people make bad food decisions, eating higher-calorie foods and eating more often. Stressed-out parents may be making those unhealthy choices for the children who depend on their judgment, new research finds. "Stress makes us choose more energy-dense foods, more comfort food," says University of Wisconsin-Madison nursing professor Myoungock Jang. "When young kids are exposed to this kind of food environment, that influences the eating patterns they are learning." Jang and nursing professors Debra Brandon of Duke University and Allison Vorderstrasse of New York University surveyed parents from 256 U.S. families with children ages 2 to 5. The researchers assessed the parents' psychological well-being, sleep quality, and family mealtime habits and food choices. "The higher their psychological distress, the less healthy food is available in the home and the more unhealthy the feeding practices are for their children," says Jang, whose findings were published recently in the journal Nursing Research. In-depth interviews with some of the parents showed that stressed families were prioritizing convenience.