Table 1 Description of activity categories used during analysis

Browsing: Any apparent moments when the child is actively looking at or for food in various locations. Does not include just walking through kitchen without pausing.

Pantry

Standing in front of open unit containing dry stored foodstuffs. May be a shelf, walk in pantry, or extra pantry (in garage for example)

Fridge

Standing in front of open fridge or freezer

Grocery Store

Walking through grocery store and/or looking at items. Includes most types of food markets and specialty food shops, does not include convenience store or gas station

Convenience Store or Café Counter

Walking through and/or looking at items in convenience store or café including: gas station, corner store, ice cream shop display, coffee shop display, other sorts of retailers with display cases of food to select. Does not include sit-down restaurants.

Kitchen Counter

Standing in front of counter space containing food (i.e.: bowl of fruit on counter)

At School

Walking through and/or looking at items in school lunch line

Meal Related Tasks: Activities related to meal behaviors that do not include working with food directly

Plating

Moving food from cooking or serving vessels to one’s own or another’s plate. Includes getting second servings. Does not include a parent or peer putting food onto plate in front of the child.

Getting Drinks

Pouring beverage into a cup for oneself or for another. Includes getting up to get the beverage from the kitchen or pouring from a container on the table/in the eating space. Includes retrieving a squeeze pack or bottled drink. Does not include a parent or peer pouring a drink for the child.

Clearing and/or washing dishes

Moving used dishes from table or eating space to the kitchen, either directly to the sink or dishwasher or to the counter. Also includes rinsing dishes, washing dishes, and/or moving dishes into the dishwasher as well as wiping down the sink space. Includes putting clean dishes away.

Setting the Table

Placing napkins, plates, cutlery, serving vessels or other necessary dining accessories on a table or in eating space.

Prep Work: Includes all preparation of food for eating or cooking. Does not include heating of any food items.

Washing and/or Peeling Produce

Includes rinsing of all types of fruits and vegetables with water. Also includes peeling produce by hand (i.e. orange) or by peeler (i.e. potatoes).

Cutting

Includes all cutting of food products with knives regardless of size or apparent sharpness. Also includes use of graters/mandolins or other sharp cutting equipment.

Cracking Eggs

Cracking eggs by hand. Does not include any other activity.

Combining 2+ ingredients by hand

Combining of two or more ingredients by hand in a range of settings including preparing cereal (combination of cereal and milk), making sandwiches (combination of bread and other products), mixing together a salad, and all general mixing of ingredients by hand. Includes mixing beverages such as chocolate sauce/powder with milk or hot tea with honey. Does not include placing ingredients in small appliance.

Measuring

Demonstrated use of measuring tools including measuring cups, spoons and liquid measures. Does not include rough estimates or “eyeballing”.

Unwrapping

Removing packaging from foods. Includes all snacks such as chips, granola bars, ice cream bars etc. Also includes unwrapping raw packaged meat, fruit/vegetables, cheese and other staples before preparation.

Using Blender/Small appliance

Placing items in kitchen stand mixer, in bowl fitted with electric mixer, blender, or food processor. Does not include using a small cooking appliance such as a counter grill or electric kettle.

Cooking: Any direct use of heat-based cooking methods.

Stove

Includes any cooking done on stove top burners including boiling water or helping adult cooking, also includes cooking on stove independently. Does not include using small cooking appliances.

Oven (Baking)

Includes any cooking done in oven including baking of cookies/cakes etc., reheating of left-overs or frozen snacks, and any other baking/roasting/broiling.

Microwave

Includes any use of microwave for food such as heating water/milk, making microwave popcorn, reheating pre-prepared foods, defrosting foods or cooking foods fully in microwave.

Observing: Any apparent witnessing of food / meal behaviors by adults and/or peers. Does not include adults and/or peers simply being present in kitchen/near food. Does not include observing consumption.

Food Selection by Adults

Witnessing any adults in household select foods to consume or prepare from home. Includes selection from pantry, fridge, counter and stores.

Food Selection by Peers

Witnessing any child (not apparent adult) select foods to consume or prepare from home. Includes selection from pantry, fridge, counter, stores and school.

Any Food Preparation by Adults

Any food preparation or cooking undertaken by adults including combining ingredients, using appliances, using heat-application methods. Also includes unwrapping of food products as well as heating of pre-prepared meals and plating of foods. Does not include consumption.

Any Food Preparation by Peers

Any food preparation or cooking undertaken by children (not adults) including combining ingredients, using appliances, using heat-application methods. Also includes unwrapping of food as well as heating of pre-prepared meals and plating of foods. Does not include consumption.