Majority of grandparents dish out healthy snacks

Grandparents often have a bad reputation for giving out too many sweet treats, but new research has found they’re offering better food than expected.

Grandparents have a reputation for handing out sweet treats but a new study shows they’re feeding their grandchildren much healthier food than they get credit for.

The Curtin University research reveals while eight in 10 nans and pops provide snacks, they’re most often fresh fruit, milk, cheese or yoghurt.

Lead researcher Michelle Jongenelis said while there was a perception grandparents gave their grandchildren too many lollies, most were providing a “healthy food environment”.

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“As a result of the very large volumes of childcare grandparents are undertaking, grandparents have significant influence on child dietary intake and are playing an increasingly important role in child eating behaviours,” Dr Jongenelis said.

Grandparents are feeding their kids generally healthy food — much healthier than their kids give them credit for. From left, Jack Bailey, grandma Lynn Stafrace and Lucy Bailey with mum Kate Carlyon. Picture: Josie Hayden

More than 1000 grandmas and grandpas who regularly care for grandchildren aged three to 14 took part in the research, conducted in conjunction with the Cancer Council and published in the journal Appetite.

Grandfathers were more likely than grandmothers to offer savoury snacks, such as potato crisps, party pies and corn chips.

Grandparents in lower socio-economic areas were less concerned about healthiness and provided less fresh fruit and more chips, biscuits, cakes lollies and sugary breakfast cereals.

Older children were more successful at pestering for treats.

“Evidence suggests that older children are more successful than younger children in their attempts at repeatedly requesting such foods from caregivers, and repeated requests have been found to be an especially important factor associated with children’s consumption of soft drinks and energy-dense nutrient-poor foods,” Dr Jongenelis said.

“Assisting grandparents to cope with their grandchildren’s requests for such foods and beverages may be important to consider in the development of interventions designed to reduce consumption of these products.”

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show a fifth of children nationwide are usually cared for by a grandparent.

Care peaks among preschoolers with two working parents.

Blackburn grandmother Lynn Stafrace is the beloved “Nanna” of Lucy, 8, and Jack, 11, of Mont Albert.

She said she was very passionate about providing healthy food when the children came to her house.

“Whenever I cook dinner for my grandkids I try for recipes that include lots of vegetables, like chow mein, or add a tin of kidney beans to my spaghetti bolognese,” she said.

Health promotion foundation Healthway funded the study.

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