Background: Food neophobia, defined as the fear of eating new and unfamiliar foods, can influence the development of children’s eating habits and limit the variety in their diets. The present study aimed to assess the level of food neophobia in children based on parents’ opinions and to analyse their attitudes towards a variety of foods. Methods: The survey was conducted in the form of a questionnaire. The study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, children’s level of neophobia was assessed using the Children’s Food Neophobia Scale (CFNS), which was completed by parents/guardians. A total of 133 participants representing paired responses were selected for analysis. In the second stage, children completed an original graphic questionnaire assessing their attitudes towards selected foods, divided into groups: positively, negatively, and neutrally perceived. The survey was conducted in a primary school in Pomeranian Province in January 2025. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used as a non-parametric statistical test to compare three groups. If necessary, post hoc tests (Dunn’s or Tukey’s) were performed to determine between which specific groups the differences existed. To assess the statistical relationship between the level of neophobia declared by parents and the type of attitudes among children, Pearson’s Chi2 test was used with a statistical significance level of p < 0.05. Results: It was found that 42.11% of children showed a high level of food neophobia, indicating a significant problem in the acceptance of new products in the diet. Commonly known and widely consumed products, such as ice cream, tomatoes, and cutlets, received the highest ratings. Edible insects and edible flowers were the least preferred. The Kruskal–Wallis test revealed significant differences in the level of neophobia among the three groups, and post hoc Tukey tests were conducted to determine the specific groups between which these differences occurred. Children with high and low levels of neophobia can exhibit both positive and negative attitudes toward different types of food. Conclusions: The results of the study highlight the importance of nutrition education for children and their parents to reduce fear of new products and promote more variety in the diet. Future research would benefit from examining the influence of family and peer environment on the development of food neophobia.

Problems with overweight and obesity during childhood and adolescence are associated with negative health effects that can impact a lifetime. Eating habits and lifestyles formed early in life influence our health in the future. These habits are difficult to change and often persist into adulthood. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of residence and school attendance on the occurrence of childhood overweight and obesity. The survey, in the form of a questionnaire, was conducted among mothers or legal guardians of children attending public primary schools in the Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. A total of 515 individuals participated in the study. The questionnaire was prepared based on the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ). The study showed that children living in rural areas are more prone to developing obesity and overweight. Among children living in rural areas, 46.89% are overweight, while in cities, 40.85% are overweight. Regarding children suffering from obesity, the percentage of those attending rural schools is 15.79%, while only 1.63% of obese children attend urban schools. Additionally, it was shown that children from rural areas more frequently exhibit poor eating habits and incorrect dietary patterns and behaviors, which mainly include eating lunch at school and simultaneously consuming nutrient-dense at home. Among children from rural areas, 74.07% consume sweets without restrictions, compared to only 25.93% of children from cities. The unrestricted consumption of salty snacks by children attending rural schools is as high as 75.64%, compared to 24.36% for children attending urban schools. The results of the current study indicate that residence and school attendance can determine the risk of developing overweight and obesity. Our findings show that children from rural areas have a high rate of obesity, highlighting the necessity to propose new solutions and tools to support proper nutrition, with particular emphasis on children from rural environments.

Background: Parents’ dietary strategies shape children’s eating habits. This study investigated socio-demographic determinants of maternal feeding practices among school-aged children in the Pomeranian province of Poland. Using a cross-sectional survey conducted in July 2025, we compared feeding strategies based on family structure, maternal employment, and number of children, and identified distinct parenting profiles through cluster analysis. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in July 2025 among 719 mothers of elementary school children in Pomeranian Voivodeship, using a convenience sampling design. An abbreviated version of the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ) with 16 items across eight subscales was used. ANOVA compared feeding strategies between groups, Spearman correlations examined associations, and k-means cluster analysis identified maternal parenting profiles. Results: Encouragement and modeling were the most frequent strategies, while monitoring was least common. Mothers raising children with a partner and those employed used monitoring, modeling, and encouragement more often. Single or non-working mothers relied more on food as a reward and for emotion regulation. Mothers of only children applied control and monitoring less intensively than mothers with multiple children. All strategies were positively correlated. Cluster analysis identified three parenting profiles: intensely directive, moderate, and emotional-supportive. Conclusions: Maternal feeding strategies vary with socio-demographic factors. Educational interventions promoting healthy eating should be tailored to family structure and mothers’ employment status.

Introduction and objective: Food neophobia—reluctance to try unfamiliar foods—is common in school-aged children and may reduce diet quality. Parental feeding practices strongly influence children’s eating behaviours. The aim of the study is to assess food neophobia in children, based on...

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between mothers’ declared dietary patterns and nutritional status and eating habits in children. It was hypothesised that children who follow a balanced diet would demonstrate better health indicators compared to those who...

The aim of the study was to determine the differentiation of mean annual concentrations of particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10, benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and benzene (C₆H₆) in 2018–2024 in the context of the structure and intensity of development in Gdańsk, Kraków, and...