Fathers' perceptions of feeding children are rarely considered in the literature, yet there is growing recognition of their unique contribution to the family feeding environment. This study aimed to explore fathers' perceptions, beliefs, attitudes and lived experiences of mealtime interactions with children and other family members. Fathers (N = 27) of children aged ≤12 years old were recruited from occupationally diverse workplaces and participated in six focus groups on-site at the fathers' workplaces. Using grounded theory, we show that fathers' connection to children at mealtimes influenced how they perceived and responded to child eating behaviours. Three major themes were identified in fathers' experiences of mealtime interactions: (i) valuing connection and communication; (ii) expectations and perceptions of child eating behaviours, and (iii) feeding practices used in an attempt to align their mealtime expectations to reality. Fathers' connections were informed by their mealtime goals, historical feeding interactions with their child and intergenerational transmission of cultural values. These values were communicated between father and child through verbal (e.g. conversations) and structural (e.g. being present at meals) cues. Fathers described challenging child behaviours that disrupted mealtime connections, such as food refusal or the use of digital devices. Awareness of child food preferences, distractors, time, personal or child mood, and guilt triggered fathers' adjustment of their feeding practices, often in an effort to avoid mealtime conflict. Fathers tended to describe their feeding practices within the context of mothers' feeding practices and mealtime participation. The values that underpin fathers' connection to family mealtimes can be leveraged to inform culturally-appropriate interventions that facilitate positive, shared family meals to support child health and development.

中文翻译：

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“不值得一战”：父亲对家庭进餐时间互动、喂养方式和儿童饮食行为的看法

在文献中很少考虑父亲对喂养孩子的看法，但人们越来越认识到他们对家庭喂养环境的独特贡献。本研究旨在探讨父亲对与孩子和其他家庭成员进餐时间互动的看法、信念、态度和生活经历。从职业多样化的工作场所招募了 12 岁以下儿童的父亲（N = 27），并在父亲的工作场所现场参加了六个焦点小组。使用扎根理论，我们表明父亲在进餐时间与孩子的联系会影响他们对孩子饮食行为的感知和反应。在父亲的进餐互动体验中确定了三个主要主题：(i) 重视联系和沟通；(ii) 对儿童饮食行为的期望和看法，以及 (iii) 试图使他们的进餐时间期望与现实保持一致的喂养做法。父亲的关系是由他们的进餐时间目标、与孩子的历史喂养互动以及文化价值观的代际传递所决定的。这些价值观在父亲和孩子之间通过口头（例如对话）和结构性（例如吃饭时出现）提示进行交流。父亲们描述了破坏进餐时间联系的具有挑战性的儿童行为，例如拒绝食物或使用数字设备。意识到儿童的食物偏好、干扰因素、时间、个人或儿童情绪以及内疚感会促使父亲调整他们的喂养方式，通常是为了避免进餐时间冲突。父亲倾向于在母亲的喂养方式和进餐时间参与的背景下描述他们的喂养方式。可以利用支撑父亲与家庭进餐时间联系的价值观为文化上适当的干预措施提供信息，促进积极的、共享的家庭进餐，以支持儿童的健康和发展。