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Table 3 Factor loadings and frequency of endorsement for structural mealtime strategies

From: About feeding children: factor structure and internal reliability of a survey to assess mealtime strategies and beliefs of early childhood education teachers

Item content

Adult control of foods consumed

Bribing with sweet foods

Supportive adult roles at mealtime

I don’t let them have seconds of other foods until they try the new food.

0.74

  

The children have to take at least one bite.

0.88

  

I have the children eat one bite of each food.

0.76

  

I have the children try the food before they can have sweet foods.

 

0.50

 

I have the children finish their meal before eating sweet foods.

 

0.63

 

I wait to serve them sweet foods if they do not eat something from their plate.

 

0.65

 

I serve sweet food after they eat the rest of the food on their plates.

 

0.98

 

I eat the same food as children at mealtime.

  

0.76

I sit with the children at mealtime.

  

0.48

Both children and staff pass the food.

  

0.76

I try new foods with children (all or most of the time).

  

0.48

I offer them more of the foods they like.

−0.02

0.38

−0.22

I try to distract them with another activity.

0.06

0.28

−0.11