The influence of mothers on Chicago kids' eating habits Tuesday,
May 03, 2011 Starting in the womb, a mother's influence on her
child's nutrition is irrefutable. Researchers are discovering
just how much sway she has, along with other influencers in a
child's world. Maternal personality. Mothers with many negative
thoughts and feelings are more likely to give their children
unhealthy food, according to a 2009 study published in Maternal
and Child Nutrition. The mothers who were emotionally unstable,
anxious, angry, sad, had poor self-confidence or a negative view
of the world were far more likely to give their child sweet and
fatty foods. Yet there was no link between maternal personality
and the amount of fruit and vegetables a child receives. The
researchers suspect the moms may be trying to compensate for
their negative emotions. Parenting styles. Parents with extreme
parenting styles usually fail to serve as good dietary role
models for their children, according to Oklahoma State
University research. Stri