Fourteenth International Conference on Food Studies

Abstract

The triple burden of malnutrition (TBM) is a significant public health concern, not only amongst the global community but even more so in nations such as South Africa. Although research identified the nutrition transition as the primary reason for TBM, more recent evidence underscored that TBM may be exacerbated by poor food literacy. Food literacy encompasses the competencies to plan, manage, prepare, select, and eat food nutritiously. While developing these competencies during early childhood for a healthy, sustainable lifestyle is essential, unfortunately, it is seldom up to standard. Furthermore, it is crucial to recognise that the food literacy of their parents greatly influences their literacy and ultimate well-being. This paper explores and describes millennial parents’ food literacy and lifestyle practices to identify how they could influence the food literacy and ultimate well-being of younger, more vulnerable generations. Utilising a quantitative approach, millennial families in Gauteng, South Africa’s food literacy and lifestyle practices were explored through an online questionnaire. Initial results indicated that the respondents’ food literacy is limited. Exploratory factor analysis allowed for a deeper investigation, which revealed that in terms of the identified food literacy constructs (i.e., plan, manage, select, prepare and eat), millennials struggled with proper planning and managing aspects. Possible reasons could be information overload, influences of digital media, and a preference for convenience foods over home cooking. This paper highlights the importance of understanding the impact of parental food literacy and its contribution towards establishing healthy dietary patterns in future generations.