RESEARCH PAPER
Social and cultural foundations of parents’ perceptions of healthy eating in Slovenia: a qualitative study
1
Community Health Center Postojna, Health Promotion Center, Postojna, Slovenia
2
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Izola, Slovenia
3
Center for Education, Rehabilitation and Training Vipava, Vipava, Slovenia
4
Community Health Center Sežana, General Medicine Clinic, Sežana, Slovenia
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2025-12-22
Final revision date: 2026-04-15
Acceptance date: 2026-04-28
Online publication date: 2026-05-07
Corresponding author
Larisa Hreščak Švigelj
Community Health Center Postojna, Health Promotion Center, Prečna ulica 2, 6230 Postojna, Slovenia
Community Health Center Postojna, Health Promotion Center, Prečna ulica 2, 6230 Postojna, Slovenia
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Food is essential for growth, development, and health, so it is important to develop healthy eating habits from a young age. This is influenced by culture, society, and personal habits, as well as family customs. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of culture on the perception of healthy eating among Slovenian parents and to find out how these cultural factors influence their children’s dietary choices.
Material and methods:
A qualitative study was conducted using a purposive sample of 15 parents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in November and December 2024. The questions were open-ended. Thematic text analysis was used to analyze the data.
Results:
Four main categories were identified: media influence and personal preferences, family dynamics in eating, family role in eating habits, factors influencing healthy eating habits. Parents balanced traditional and contemporary influences, used shared meals to maintain cohesion, negotiated intergenerational practices, and adapted routines to limited time and food costs.
Conclusions:
This study provides insights into the dietary perspective of Slovenian parents. Parents combine domestic, seasonal, and culturally established practices with ideas about healthy eating, while family dynamics, time constraints, and economic factors, including food costs, play a key role in their decisions.
Food is essential for growth, development, and health, so it is important to develop healthy eating habits from a young age. This is influenced by culture, society, and personal habits, as well as family customs. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of culture on the perception of healthy eating among Slovenian parents and to find out how these cultural factors influence their children’s dietary choices.
Material and methods:
A qualitative study was conducted using a purposive sample of 15 parents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in November and December 2024. The questions were open-ended. Thematic text analysis was used to analyze the data.
Results:
Four main categories were identified: media influence and personal preferences, family dynamics in eating, family role in eating habits, factors influencing healthy eating habits. Parents balanced traditional and contemporary influences, used shared meals to maintain cohesion, negotiated intergenerational practices, and adapted routines to limited time and food costs.
Conclusions:
This study provides insights into the dietary perspective of Slovenian parents. Parents combine domestic, seasonal, and culturally established practices with ideas about healthy eating, while family dynamics, time constraints, and economic factors, including food costs, play a key role in their decisions.
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